![\"Humber\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Humber.jpg\")
<\/a>Five years ago today (April 21, 2012), the White Sox\u2019 Phil Humbe<\/strong><\/span>r tossed a perfect game in a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Seattle.\u00a0 Humber finished off the Mariners in 96 pitches, 67 for strikes, going to a three-ball count on only three batters.\u00a0 In his gem, Humber struck out nine (including the final batter) and there were only six outfield putouts.<\/p>\nHumber\u2019s \u201cperfecto\u201d intrigues me \u2013 primarily because it was his first AND ONLY<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>career complete game (eight seasons, 97 appearances, 51 starts). Humber ended with a career line of 16-23, 5.30; and his 16 career wins are the fewest ever for a pitcher who tossed a perfect game. Note: The White Sox Charlie Robertson had the fewest career victories at the time of<\/strong> his perfect game (April 30, 1922) \u2013 just one. Robertson\u2019s perfect outing came in just his fourth career start (fifth career appearance). <\/em><\/p>\n Humber\u2019s also was the first of three perfect games in 2012 \u2013 the only MLB season with three perfect games. Note: There has not been a perfect game in MLB since 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n FOR MY MINNESOTA FOLLOWERS \u2013 THERE IS A TWINS\u2019 CONNECTION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Humber, who pitched in the majors from 2006 to 2013, was a former Twin (2008-09), as was his White Sox battery mate that day \u2013 A.J. Pierzynski.\u00a0 Pierzynski, had been a Twin from 1998 through 2003.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As if often case, contemplating one unique baseball achievement sent me to the record books.\u00a0\u00a0 So, here are a few facts about MLB\u2019s 23 perfect games to date. (Thanks to Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com for lost of statistical resouces._<\/p>\n \u201cNecessity is the mother of concentration.\u201d\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong>More perfect games (seven of 23) have ended in the narrowest of victories, by the score of 1-0<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The highest score in a perfect game?<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 That would be 10-0<\/strong>, the Giants\u2019 Matt Cain<\/strong>\u2019s margin over the Astros in his May 13, 2012 perfect outing.<\/p>\n PERFECTLY TIMED<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On July 18, 1999, the Yankees\u2019 David Cone pitched the first perfect game in interleague play \u2013 as New York topped Montreal 6-0 at Yankee Stadium. It couldn\u2019t have come at a more appropriate time.\u00a0 It was Yogi Berra Day at the stadium and Don Larsen (who pitched the only World Series perfect game) threw out the first pitch to Berra (who caught Larsen\u2019s 1956 perfect outing).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Another perfecto fact<\/strong>.\u00a0 T<\/span><\/span>he largest attendance<\/strong> for a perfect game was 65,519<\/strong> for Don Larsen<\/strong>\u2019s 1956 World Series perfect day of work.\u00a0 The smallest crowd<\/strong> to witness a \u201cperfecto) was 6,298<\/strong>, when Catfish Hunter shut down the Twins in Oakland on May 8, 1968 – although tens of thousands claim to have been there.\u00a0 The announced attendance for Humber’s perfect outing was 22,472.<\/p>\n Home Cookin\u2019 seems to help. <\/strong><\/span>Of the 23 perfect games, 17 were at home.<\/p>\n Reaching high for perfection.<\/span> \u00a0Randy Johnson<\/strong>\u2019s perfect game on May 18, 2004 (Diamondbacks 2 \u2013 Braves 0 in Atlanta) made Johnson the oldest<\/strong> 40 years \u2013 256 days) and tallest<\/strong> (6\u201910\u201d) pitcher to complete a perfect game.<\/p>\n Way to go, Kid!<\/span> John Montgomery Ward<\/strong> is the younges<\/strong>t player to toss a perfect game. He achieved his feat for the NL\u2019s Providence Grays (in a 5-0 win over the Buffalo Bisons) on June 17, 1880 – at the age of 20 years and 105 days.<\/p>\n Let’s get this over with<\/span>. Cy Young<\/strong> pitched the quickest<\/strong> perfect game (one hour and 25 minutes), as the Boston Americans topped the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0 on May 5, 1904.<\/p>\n Savoring the moment(s).<\/strong><\/span> The most time-consuming<\/strong> perfect game was pitched by David Wells<\/strong> (two hours and forty minutes), with his Yankees besting the Twins 4-0 on May 17, 1998.<\/p>\n ON THE BIG STAGE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Don Larsen pitched the only World Series perfect game on October 8, 1956, at Yankee Stadium – as the Bronx Bombers bested the rival Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0.\u00a0 Larsen struck out seven, went to a three-ball count only once and saw nine outfield putouts.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n