The Perfect Game That Became Imperfect

Every time someone pitches a perfect game, everyone realizes what a tremendous, albeit lucky feat it is.

When I say lucky, I don't mean just plain luck, I mean universal luck.  All the planets have to be at their appropriate place, and the stars have to be at their brightest.

How many games have there been?  I don't have the time or patience to do the research, but someone said it was near 400,000. Using that as a figure and knowing that Mark Buehrle just pitched the 18th perfect game in history, let's do the math.

That comes out to be .0045%, which brings the spotlight in a little clearer, doesn't it?

Picture it!  Milwaukee,  May 26, 1959.  The Pittsburgh Pirates are in town to play the Milwaukee Braves.

That Tuesday night in front of 19,194 paid, the little left-hander pitched probably the gem of baseball history.  I am sure you've heard of it,  the "unofficial" perfect game.

Over 12 innings of perfect game, is that incredible or what?  He and "fidgety" Lew Burdette of the Braves, both with 12 inning shutouts working.

Haddix isn't pitching against someone's "B" team.  He is pitching to Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock, all fearsome power hitters.  36 up and 36 down.  No runs, no hits, no errors, no base runners at all. 

Now we move to the bottom of the 13th, still scoreless.  First up, Felix Mantilla who was no slouch himself (he had 30 HR at the All-Star break one year).  Third-baseman Don Hoak threw wildly to first allowing Mantilla to reach base on an error.  Perfect game gone!  Oh well, still have the no-no intact, not to mention the shutout.

Eventual Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews up with one on and no outs.  Mathews gives himself up for the team and sacrifices Mantilla to second with a bunt.

It's all still good, no runs and no hits, one out now.

Eventual HR King Hank Aaron up, one out with first base open.  Haddix and catcher Smoky Burgess decide to put him on.  Intentional walk, who can blame them?  With the perfect game already shot, and still trying to set up a force, Aaron takes the walk and stands at first.

Up to the plate steps Joe Adcock, one of the most feared power hitters of the day.  Haddix looks in for the sign, runners at first and second with only one out.  Moment of truth.

Adcock sends a long drive to right-center, Virdon and Christopher giving chase.  The ball drops in for a hit, Mantilla scores an unearned run, and the Braves win 1-0.  Just as the planets move out of alignment, the no-no, the shutout and the win all fade to black.

How disheartening that must have been to have pitched that well and lost. 

Give Burdette his due, he pitched a 13 inning, 12-hit shutout and got the win.

It is not called a perfect game, but to me it was and always will be a 12-inning perfect game. 

I wonder how many pitchers it would take to do that in a game today?

© 2009 Clifton Eastham.

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