Randy Johnson Pitches Perfect Game
Wednesday May 19, 2004
Five time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson pitched a perfect game on May 18, 2004. I was fortunate enough to watch it. What an experience! Even in the last inning he was throwing 97 mph strikes! It was a phenomenal performance, and Randy deserves all the accolades that he receives.
So what is a perfect game? Isn't a no-hitter perfect? Close, but nope. A pitcher can pitch a no-hitter, and still have had men on base (through errors or walks) and can even pitch a no-hitter and lose the game! It happened in 1964 to Ken Johnson of the Houston Astros (no relation to Randy Johnson!) as a result of fielding errors. A perfect game is one where the pitcher faces, and sends down, 27 batters in a row without any of them reaching base. Amazing!
At the age of 40 years and 251 days, Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher to ever pitch a perfect game. In modern era baseball, after 1900, he is only the 15th pitcher of any age to accomplish this feat.
Congratulations, Randy Johnson!
So what is a perfect game? Isn't a no-hitter perfect? Close, but nope. A pitcher can pitch a no-hitter, and still have had men on base (through errors or walks) and can even pitch a no-hitter and lose the game! It happened in 1964 to Ken Johnson of the Houston Astros (no relation to Randy Johnson!) as a result of fielding errors. A perfect game is one where the pitcher faces, and sends down, 27 batters in a row without any of them reaching base. Amazing!
At the age of 40 years and 251 days, Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher to ever pitch a perfect game. In modern era baseball, after 1900, he is only the 15th pitcher of any age to accomplish this feat.
Congratulations, Randy Johnson!
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