Len Barker's perfect game

On Friday, May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the tenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history.[1] The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 3–0, as Barker did not allow a baserunner.[2] Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. He struck out 11 Blue Jays hitters (all of them swinging) including seven of the last 11 batters.[3]

Len Barker's perfect game
The game took place at Cleveland Stadium.
123456789RHE
Toronto Blue Jays000000000003
Cleveland Indians20000010X370
DateMay 15, 1981
VenueCleveland Stadium
CityCleveland, Ohio
Managers

Barker's perfect game is the most recent no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher.[4] "I run into people almost every day who want to talk about it," Barker said in 2006. "Everyone says, 'You're probably tired of talking about it.' I say, 'No, it's something to be proud of.' It's a special thing."[5]

Barker was the first perfect game pitcher who did not come to bat during the entire game, with the American League having adopted the designated hitter in 1973.

Ron Hassey, Barker's catcher, would catch Dennis Martínez's perfect game in 1991, thus becoming the only catcher, to date, to catch two perfect games.

Danny Ainge, who would play 14 seasons in the NBA, was on the losing end of this game. He grounded out and struck out in his two at-bats; in the ninth inning, he was pinch-hit for by Alvis Woods, who struck out.

Boxscore

Team123456789RHE
Toronto Blue Jays (10–22)000000000003
Cleveland Indians (16–8)20000001x370
WP: Len Barker (3–1)   LP: Luis Leal (2–4)
Home runs:
TOR: None
CLE: Jorge Orta (2)

References

  1. Bruce Newman (1981-05-25). "Cleveland's Len Barker promised only a no-hitter, but he". Si.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  2. "Pitcher Perfect: Len Barker tosses MLB's ninth perfect game". mlb.com. May 15, 1981. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  3. Matt Crossman (2011-05-15). "Thirty years later, Len Barker recalls perfect game". Sporting News. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  4. "Most Recent No-Hitters by Team". SI Vault. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  5. "Brewers". CNN. Retrieved May 7, 2010.


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