On May 18, 2004, Randy Johnson, who was a pitcher for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Arizona Diamondbacks, pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves. The game took place at Turner Field in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 23,381 people.^[1] Johnson, who was 40 at the time, was the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game, surpassing Cy Young who was 37 when he threw his perfect game in 1904.^[2] This perfect game was the 17th in baseball history, with the 16th perfect game being David Cone in 1999.^[3]Johnson's perfect game was also the seventh in National League history, the predecessor being Dennis Martínez in 1991.^[3]

• 3Game statistics

Background[edit]

Perfect Game USA Tournament Playing Rules. Coaches: Be sure you are aware of all rules and rule changes. Perfect Game reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. National High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following exceptions. (Updated 4/20/2010) IMPORTANT RULES. IProScout Baseball High School 17U+ – Pitch Count & Chart – Game Analysis & Reports app – $4.99. This version allows use of the ALL pitch types, pitch results and pitch velocity. The user has the option to pitch count only or pitch count and chart. May 26, 1959: Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings, loses in 13th This article was written by Mark Miller Marcia Haddix was at home — on a Clark County, Ohio, farm — when her mother-in-law called to tell her to turn on the radio — her husband was pitching a pretty good game in Milwaukee. Perfect Games. Words alone cannot describe pitching's top 'club' and most desired goal — the masterpiece of any career, the pinnacle of the pitching aspect and one of the most difficult feats to achieve in the entire game of baseball is the perfect game. What is a perfect game in baseball?

Perfect Game USA is devoted to furthering the development and career of the talented high school baseball players. The most respected scouting service in the industry. × For all Red Flag Tournaments all entry gates and merchandise kiosks are now cashless. The first known use in print of the term perfect game occurred in 1908. Sanborn's report for the Chicago Tribune about Addie Joss's performance against the White Sox calls it 'an absolutely perfect game, without run, without hit, and without letting an opponent reach first base by hook or crook, on hit, walk, or error, in nine innings'.

Perfect Game Lowest Pitch Count

Going into the game, Johnson had a win-loss record of 3–4 with a 2.83 earned run average (ERA) in eight games.^[4] On April 16, 2004, Johnson pitched a complete gameshutout against the San Diego Padres.^[4]

Game summary[edit]

The game started at 7:36 p.m. in front of 23,381 people at Turner Field in Atlanta.^[1] The game was nationally televised by TBS as part of the Braves' TV contract at the time and on FSN Arizona in the Diamondbacks' local market. Johnson's catcher for the game was Robby Hammock,^[5] who was playing his second season in the Majors. Johnson later praised Hammock stating, 'I only shook [Hammock] off two or three times...He called a great game. The thing is he was probably the most excited guy in the clubhouse, and I'm happy for that. He's come a long way.'^[5] The last batter of the game was pinch-hitterEddie Pérez, who was struck out on a 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) fastball.^[6] Johnson struck out 13 batters in the game, the third-highest strikeout count in an MLB perfect game behind Sandy Koufax's 14 Ks in 1965 and Matt Cain's 14 Ks in 2012.^[6] The perfect game was Johnson's second no-hitter, the first in 1990 on the Seattle Mariners.^[7] Johnson's perfect game was the first in the MLB since David Cone on July 18, 1999 for the New York Yankees,^[8] and the first in the National League since Dennis Martínez of the Montreal Expos on July 28, 1991.^[8] Johnson, who was 40 at the time, surpassed Cy Young as the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history.^[2] Young, who achieved the feat in 1904, was 37 at the time.^[2]

-Johnny Estrada's first at-bat in the second inning was the longest of the night, requiring 10 pitches before striking out swinging on the 11th pitch. It was the only Braves at-bat that reached three balls in the count.

-Veteran Chipper Jones struck out all three times.

-Andruw Jones and Mark DeRosa were the only Braves batters without a strikeout.

-The play that came closest to a hit was Mike Hampton's second at-bat in the sixth inning when a chop ground ball dribbling left of the second base bag resulted in Alex Cintrón performing a do-or-die running grab and throw to the first baseman, Shea Hillenbrand for the out.

Game statistics[edit]

General reference

May 18, 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves Play by Play and Box ScoreBaseball-Reference.com Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2010.

Line score[edit]

Box score[edit]

Other info[edit]

• Pitches-strikes: Johnson 117-87, Hampton 107-71.
• Ground outs-fly outs: Johnson 7-7, Hampton 13-8.
• Batters faced: Johnson 27, Hampton 38.
• Umpires: HP: Greg Gibson. 1B: Bruce Dreckman. 2B: Gerry Davis. 3B: Larry Poncino.
• Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy.
• Wind: 5 mph, Out to CF.
• Time: 2:13.
• Attendance: 23,381.
• Venue: Turner Field.

Reactions[edit]

Robby Hammock, the catcher of Johnson's perfect game:

Card Game Pitch

Don Larsen Perfect Game Pitch Count

Robin Yount, the bench coach of the Diamondbacks at the time:

Luis Gonzalez, left fielder for the Diamondbacks at the time:

Bob Brenly, Diamondbacks manager at the time:

Do I Have Perfect Pitch

Footnotes[edit]

• ^aEddie Pérezpinch hit for pitcherMike Hampton in the bottom of the ninth inning.^[1]

References[edit]

Pitch Perfect Free

1. ^ ^abc'May 18, 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves Play by Play and Box Score'. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
2. ^ ^abc'Oldest pitchers to toss perfectos'. MLB.com. May 18, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
3. ^ ^ab'Perfect game list'. MLB.com. May 18, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
4. ^ ^ab'Randy Johnson 2004 Pitching Gamelogs'. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
5. ^ ^abcdeGeorge Henry (May 19, 2004). 'Hammock lives dream, catches gem'. MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
6. ^ ^abc'Johnson K's 13 in perfect effort'. ESPN.com. May 18, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
7. ^'Randy Johnson, 40, Hurls Perfect Game'. The New York Times. May 19, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
8. ^ ^ab'Randy Johnson pitches perfect game'. UPI. May 18, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2010.

External links[edit]

Pitch Perfect Games Online