jumbossportsblog

19th century

[edit] Lee Richmond

Scorecard for Richmond’s perfect game: “R-A” notation in fifth inning represents the 9–3 putout

Richmond was pitching in his first full season in the big leagues after appearing in one game in 1879. He was apparently considered a good hitter, as he batted second in the lineup. His perfect game featured an unusual 9–3 putout, with Worcester right fielder Lon Knight throwing out Cleveland’s Bill Phillips at first.^[14] The play came on one of three balls Cleveland hit out of the infield.^[15] Three outs were recorded on “foul bounds”: balls caught after bouncing once in foul territory (the foul bound rule was eliminated three years later). A monument marks the site of the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds where the game took place, now part of the campus of Becker College.^[16] The feat was recognized as unusual: a newspaper report described it as “the most wonderful game on record”.^[17][18]

[edit] John Montgomery Ward

Monte Ward threw his perfect game at the Grays’ park in Providence, but Buffalo, by virtue of a coin toss, which was the custom under the rules at that time, was officially the “home” team, batting in the bottom of each inning. At the age of 20 years, 105 days, Ward is the youngest pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. He batted sixth in the lineup. Beginning in 1881, the year after his perfect game, Ward spent more time as a position player than a pitcher; in 1885, following an arm injury, he became a full-time infielder.^[19] The five days between Ward’s game and Richmond’s is the shortest amount of time between major-league perfect games.

[edit] Modern era