Since the first AL/NL World Series matchup opened on October 1, 1903, there have been 678 World Series games played. Of those contests, 118 have ended with one team held scoreless, with 91 of those featuring complete-game shutouts. Eighteen of those complete-game shutouts have been “under maximum pressure,” ending in a 1-0 score.
Yankee Killer
Southpaw Art Nehf of the Giants is the only pitcher to win two World Series’ 1-0 complete games, tossing a four-hit shutout in Game Eight of the (best-of-nine) 1921 World Series against the Yankees and a six-hit shutout (again against the Yankees) in Game Three of the 1920 World Series. Nehf pitched 15 MLB seasons, going 184-120, 3.20, winning twenty or more games in two campaigns. He was 4-4, 2.16 in 12 World Series appearances (nine starts).
In this post, Baseball Roundtable would like to present its top-ten World Series complete-game shutouts. Keep in mind, these ratings, while based on BBRT criteria (additional value placed, for example, on Game Seven shutouts, contests that ended 1-0, extra-inning shutouts or unique accomplishments like Bob Gibson’s 17 strikeouts or Spud Chandler’s ten-hit, two-walk scoreless outing), these ranking are subjective and clearly invite discussion and debate. Isn’t discussion and debate what makes the national pastime great?
THE GRANDDADDY OF ALL WORLD SERIES SHUTOUTS –
A “PERFECT” CHOICE FOR NUMBER ONE
ONE – WITH A BULLET – Don Larsen, Yankees, Game 5, 1956 World Series … October 8, 1956
A no-brainer here. How could you not put the only World Series perfect game at the top of this list?
When Don Larsen took the mound to start Game Five of the 1956 World Series for the Yankees (against the rival Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee stadium) expectations may not have been very high. Larsen (11-5, 3.26 on the season) was coming off a Game Two start (in Brooklyn three days earlier) when he lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (none earned) on one hit and four walks. In that contest a double play got him out of a scoreless first after issuing a pair of walks — and the Yankees scored once in the first and five times in the top of the second to give Larsen a nice 6-0 lead. But in the second inning, the wheels came off. Larsen’s second frame went: single by Dodgers’ 1B Gil Hodges; LF Sandy Amoros safe on an error by 1B Jim Collins; walk to RF Carl Furillo to load the bases; sacrifice fly by C Roy Campanella scoring Hodges; foul pop out by PH Dale Mitchell; walk to 2B Jim Gilliam reloading the bases. Johnny Kucks then replaced Larsen on the mound and gave up a two-run single to SS Pee Wee Reese. Tommy Byrne then replaced Kucks and gave up a three-run home run to CF Duke Snider before fanning 3B Jackie Robinson to get out of the inning. End result? Six Dodger runs to tie the game and, ultimately, lead to a 13-8 Dodger win.
N0w, There’s a Trade that Worked Out for Someone
In the two seasons before his trade to the Yankees (1953-54), Don Larsen had gone 10-34, 4.27 for the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles). In five seasons as a Yankee, Larsen went 45-24, 3.50 in the regular season and 3-2, 3.33 in six World Series starts.
Larsen, however, was in complete control in Game Five – fanning seven in a 97-pitch, perfect game – a 2-0 Yankee win. In the game, Larsen went to a three-ball count on only one batter, started 14 hitters off 0-1 and – if you count the four batters who hit the first pitch for an out – threw a first-pitch strike to 18 of 27 hitters.
Bookends
Don Larsen opened his World Series perfect game with a five-pitch strikeout (looking) of Dodgers’ 2B Jim Gilliam and closed it out with a five-pitch strike out (looking) of pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell.
___________________________________________________
TWO – Christy Mathewson, Giants … Game 5, 1905 World Series … October 14, 1905
Photo by trialsanderrors 
Christy Mathewson threw a nifty six-hit shutout (no walks, four strikeouts) in beating the Philadelphia Athletics 2-0 in Game Five of the 1905 World Series – giving the Giants the Series four games-to-one. It was not just future Hall of Famer Mathewson’s excellence in this game that earned him spot number-two on this ranking. It’s that this was Mathewson’s’ third-consecutive, complete-game shutout in the 1905 series – and he threw those three whitewashings over a period of just six days. On October 9, Mathewson shutout the Athletics 3-0, giving up just four hits. Then, on October 12, he threw another four-hitter, this time shutting down the Athletics 9-0. Then in Game Seven, it was the five-hit. 2-0 win. For the Series, Mathewson gave up just 13 hits (and, of course no runs) and one walk in 27 innings, fanning 18.
Trivia Tidbits from the 1005 World Series
- The Giants’ four wins all came via the shutout – three by Christy Mathewson and one by Joe McGinnity.
- The Athletics’ only win also came via the shutout – a four-hitter tossed by Chief Bender in a 3-0, Game Two victory.
- The Giants gave up just three runs in the Series – all unearned, giving them an unbeatable single World Series’ record 0.00 earned run average.
- The Giants used only three pitchers in the entire series – Christ Mathewson (27 innings pitched); Joe McGinnity (17 innings pitched); and Red Ames one inning pitched. Yep, and entire World Series and only one “call to the pen.”
Mathewson was coming off a 31-9, 1.28 1905 season in which he led MLB in wins, ERA and shutouts (tied with eight), and led the NL in strikeouts (206). In his career, he led his league in ERA five times, strikeouts five times, wins four times and shutouts four times. He finished with a 373-188, 2.13 record.
_______________________________________________________________
THREE – Bob Gibson, Cardinals … Game One, 1968 World Series … October 2, 1961
1968 was the Year of the Pitcher and, in the National League, Bob Gibson was the Pitcher of the Year. Gibson went 22-9 that season, with a microscopic, MLB-best 1.12 earned run average. In addition, 13 of his wins were complete-game shutouts (another 1968 MLB-best). He also led the NL in strikeouts with 268 in 304 2/3 innings pitched. Gibson’s 1968 earned run average of 1.12 was the third-lowest, post-1900, qualifying MLB ERA – and his 13 complete-game shutouts are the second-most in a single season since 1900.
They Call Him the Streak
Over June, July and August of 1968, Bob Gibson started 18 games, completed 17, won 16 (one loss/one no-decision), threw 11 shutouts, and put up a 0.77 ERA.
It’s no surprise that the Redbirds selected Gibson to start Game One (against the Tigers’ 31-game winner Denny McLain) – and Gibson did not disappoint. He threw a five-hit shutout, walking just one and fanning a World Series record 17 batters. Gibson fanned everyone in the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once, struck out at least one batter in every inning and fanned three batters in two frames. Despite Gibson’s heroics, the Cardinals lost the Series four games-to-three behind three complete-game wins from Mickey Lolich. Gibson also started and completed three games, going 2-1, 1.67. He took the loss in Game Seven giving up four runs on eight hits and one walk, while Lolich gave up just one tally on five hits and three walks.
Hall of Famer Gibson pitched in 17 MLB seasons (all for the Cardinals). He won two Cy Young awards and, in 1968, won both the NL Cy Young and MVP Awards. Gibson was a five-time 20-game winner, leading the NL in wins once, ERA once, complete games once, strikeouts once and shutouts four times. His career mound record was 251-174, 2,91, with 3,117 strikeouts in 3,884 1/3 innings. He also won nine Gold Gloves and hit .206 with 24 career homers. In nine World Series starts, Gibson won seven and lost two, pitching eight complete games, posting a 1.89 earned run average and fanning 92 batters in 81 innings.
_____________________________________________________
FOUR – Jack Morris, Game Seven, 1991 World Series … October 27, 1991
There have only been three extra-inning World Series complete-game shutouts, ten Game Seven complete-game shutouts and 18 World Series complete-game wins ending in a 1-0 score. And, there has been only one game that met all three criteria – Jack Morris’ performance in the finale of the 1991 World Series – a ten-inning seven-hit, two walk, eight-whiff gem that gave the Twins a 1-0 Game Seven win over the Atlanta Braves. This performance earned extra credit for Morris, since it came at a time when complete games were at a premium. As was widely reported, Twins’ Manager Tom Kelly was ready to pull Morris after nine innings and 118 pitches – but Morris was having none of it (and voiced his objection in no uncertain terms). And, the rest, as they say, is history.
Hall of Farmer Morris pitched in 18 MLB seasons, going 254-186, 3.90. He was a five-time All Star and led his league in wins twice (winning twenty or more games in three seasons), and in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts once each. (He also led the league in wild pitches six times.) Morris was 4-2, 2.96 in seven World Series starts and was MVP of the 1991 World Series.
_____________________________________________
FIVE – Christy Mathewson, Giants, Game Two, 1913 World Series …. October 8, 1913
Yes, Christy Mathewson holds two spots on the top ten – and he earned them. The Giants won only one game in the 1913 World Series (against the Athletics) and it was a good one (at least for Giants’ starter Christy Mathewson). That day Mathewson tossed his still-record fourth World Series complete-game shutout, as well as one of only (to date) three extra inning, complete-game Fall Classic whitewashings. In addition, when the Giants finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the tenth inning, Mathewson plated the first run with an RBI single off Athletics’ starter (and future Hall of Famer) Eddie Plank and later came around to score the second run in the Giants’ 3-0 win. (Mathewson was two-for-three at the plate in the game.) On the mound, Mathewson gave up eight hit and one walk, while fanning five in his ten scoreless frames.
_____________________________________________
BONUS CONTENT – The First and Last (most recent) World Series Complete-Game Shutouts
Bill Dinneen … The first-ever World Series complete-game shutout came in Game Two of the first-ever AL/NL World Series (October 2, 1903). The AL Boston Americans’ southpaw Bill Dinneen shut down the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on three hits and two walks. He fanned 11 in his nine frames. Eleven days later (October 13), Dinneen threw the second-ever World Series complete-game shutout, blanking the Pirates (again by a 3-0 score) in Game Eight of the best of nine matchup. (The Americans won the Series five games-to-three). Dinneen pitched in 12 MLB seasons, going 170-177, 3.01 with 306 complete games in 352 starts. He won twenty or more games in four seasons. In 1903, he went 21-13, 2.26.
Madison Bumgarner … The most-recent World Series complete-game shutout was tossed by the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner in Game Five (October 26) of the 2014 World Series. Bumgarner shut down the Royals 5-0, giving up four hits and no walks, while fanning eight in nine innings of work. In that Series, Bumgarner started and won two games and then picked up a five-inning save in Game Seven. He was on the mound for 21 innings in the Series and gave up just nine hits, one walk and one earned run, earning Series MVP honors. Bumgarner played in his twelfth MLB season in 2020 and has a 120-96, 3.20 record.
SIX – Spud Chandler, Yankees, 1943 World Series, Game Five … October 11, 1943
When Spud Chandler topped the Cardinals (in St, Louis) 2-0 in Game Five (giving the Yankees the Series four games-to-one), he had to work for it. Chandler gave up the most hits ever in a World Series complete-game shutout (ten) and was in and out of trouble the whole game. The Yankee righty stranded two runners in the first inning, two in the second, two in the fourth, one in the seventh, two in the eighth and two in the ninth – while the Yankees got him a sparse two runs in the sixth. He had only two hit-free innings in the game (the second and fifth). Chandler comes in at number six on the basis of pure grit.
Chandler pitched in 11 MLB seasons, going 109-43, 2.84. In 1943, he led the AL in wins (20 against four losses), earned run average (1.64), winning percentage (.833), complete games (20) and shutouts (5). The four-time All Star was also a twenty-game winner in 1946 and, in his final season (1947), at age 39, led the American League in ERA at 2.46 (although he would not qualify under today’s rules, having pitched just 128 innings in a 154-game season).
In six post-season appearances (four starts), Chandler went 2-2, 1.62.
__________________________________________________
SEVEN … Clem Labine, Dodgers, 1956 World Series, Game Six … October 9, 1956
Clem Labine took the mound for the Dodgers the day after Don Larsen pitched his World Series perfect game against them. Brooklyn was down three games to two and, given the excitement of the day before, needed someone to turn things around revive their hopes. Labine proved up to the task, pitching ten innings of seven-hit, two-walk (five strikeout) shutout ball against the vaunted Yankees’ lineup. And he needed to be that good, for after nine frames, Yankees’ starter Bob Turley also had a shutout going, having given up just three hits (but six walks), with 11 strikeouts. The Dodgers finally gave Labine the run he needed – and a victory – on two walks and a Jackie Robinson RBI single in the bottom of the tenth.
Clem Labine pitched 13 MLB seasons, putting up a 77-56 record (94 saves). He gets extra credit in this rating for his Game Six start because he had spent the bulk of the 1956 season working in relief. An All Star that campaign, he had appeared in 62 games (just three starts) and gone 10-6, 3.35, with an NL best 19 saves (statistically noted after the save rule was enacted). Over his career, Labine appeared in 475 regular-season games as a reliever and 38 as a starter. His ten-inning Game Six shutout was his only start in 13 World Series appearances.
______________________________________________
EIGHT – Sandy Koufax, Dodgers, Game Seven, 1965 World Series …. October 14, 1965
Sandy Koufax started Game Two of the 1965 World Series against the Twins (in Minnesota) and took the loss (Twins 5 – Dodgers 1), despite giving up just two runs (one earned) in six innings. He came back to throw a nifty four-hit, complete-game shutout in Game Five (in LA) – with one walk and ten strikeouts. Then, with the Series tied at three games apiece, he took the mound for Game Seven on just two days rest and produced another gem – a three-hit, three-walk, ten-strikeout shutout – as the Dodgers won 2-1. The short rest give him an edge when looking a Game Seven shutout winners.
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched in 12 MLB campaigns, winning 165 games (87 losses) and putting up a 2.76 earned run average. In his final four seasons (he retired at age 30 due to arm issues), he won three Cy Young Award (1963-65-66), led the league in wins three times, ERA four times, complete games twice, shutouts three times and strikeouts three times. His record over those four seasons was 97-27, 1.88, with 1,228 strikeouts in 1,192 2/3 inning pitched. He tossed 89 complete games and 31 shutouts over those four seasons. For his career, Koufax was 165-87, 2.76. In eight World Series appearances (seven starts), he was 4-3, despite a stingy 0.95 ERA.
___________________________________________
NINE – Jesse Haines, Cardinals, Game 3, 1926 World Series … October 5, 1926
Jesse Haines gets in the top ten as the only hurler to hit a home run while throwing a World Series shutout. Hines threw a five-hit, three-walk, three-strikeout shutout for the Cardinals (against the Yankees – with the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel in the center of the lineup) in Game Three of the 1926 World Series. The Cardinals, who won 4-0, scored three times in the fourth inning, with Haines popping a two-run home run to right field. Haines also had a single in his three at bats.
Hall of Famer Haines pitched in 19 MLB seasons, going 210-158, 3.64. Haines was a three-time twenty-game winner and led the NL in complete games (25) and shutouts (6) in 1927. Haines was 3-1, 1.67 in six World Series appearances (four starts).
_______________________________________
TEN – Orel Hershiser, Dodgers, 1988 World Series, Game Two …. October 16, 1988
Orel Hershiser pitched a three-hit, two walk, eight-whiff shutout as the Dodgers topped the A’s 6-0 in Game Two of the 1988 World Series. But that’s not what got him the ten-spot here. He is the only pitcher to collect three hits in a World Series game in which he also pitched a complete-game shutout. He got those three safeties – which included two doubles – in three at bats, He also had one run scored and one RBI – not a bad complement to his pitching prowess. Hershiser had two starts in the Series, pitching a pair of complete games and giving up just seven hits and two runs in 18 innings (fanning 17). His performance earned earned him the World Series MVP Award.
“O” is for Orel
“O”rel Hershiser holds the MLB record for the most consecutive regular-season scoreless innings pitched at 59 – set from August 30 through September 28, 1988. The streak included five consecutive complete-game shutouts in September. In his sixth (and final) September start, Hershiser pitched ten scoreless innings before being relieved in a game the Dodgers lost to the Padres 2-1 in 16 innings. Talk about a big finish, in his last nine starts of the 1988 season, Hershiser threw eight complete games, going 7-2, with a 0.44 earned run average and six shutouts.
Orel Hershiser had an 18-season MLB career, going 204-150, 3.48, with 2,014 strikeouts in 3,130 1/3 innings. He was a three-time All Star and, in 1988, led the National League in wins (23), complete games (15), shutouts (8) and innings pitched (267). In six World Series starts, Hershiser was 3-3, 4.07 and, in a total of 22 post-season appearances, he was 8-3, 2.59. He was voted MVP of of the 1988 NLCS, 1988 WS and 1995 ALCS. As a hitter, Hershiser hit .201 (163-for-810), with no homers, but 50 RBI. He was a .208 hitter in the 24 post-seasons at bats.
Hershiser Tidbit
Orel Hershiser twice led the National League in losses (1989 and 1992).
Bonus World Series Shutout – Babe Ruth
Why a bonus? Because it’s Babe Ruth, that’s why. In Game One of the 1918 World Series, Red Sox’ southpaw Babe Ruth shutout the Cubs on six hits over nine innings – the BoSox winning 1-0. Ruth’s mound opponent that day was the Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn, who had led the NL in wins (22), ERA (1.74), shutouts (8), and strikeouts (148). Ruth was a pretty good World Series hurler, going 3-0, with a 0.87 earned run average in three starts (two complete games).
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference,.com; “The World Series,,” Richard Cohen, David Neft, Roland Johnson, Jordan Deutsch, Dial Press, New York (1976)
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. To see the full list, click here.
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary
