# Least/Most pitches in a game

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-most-pitches-in-a-game/271118>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 25, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-most-pitches-in-a-game/271118 "2004-10-25T21:03:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Doparama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Doparama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doparama)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-most-pitches-in-a-game/271118/1 "2004-10-25T21:03:10Z")

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It is theoretically possible to pitch a perfect game and throw 27 pitches, with each batter grounding or flying out on the first pitch. I’m sure this has never occured in MLB, but what is the lowest pitch count for a complete game (not necessarily a perfect one) with single or multiple pitchers?

While we are on the subject, what is the highest pitch count - both for a single pitcher and multiple pitchers - for a single game?

I am a guest so - as far as I know - I cannot search the archives to see if this has been answered already.

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**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-most-pitches-in-a-game/271118/2 "2004-10-25T21:31:15Z")

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Awareness of the significance of pitch counts, as well as the tracking of them, is a relatively recent occurrence.

That being said, [according to this site](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/08101944.shtml) , the fewest pitches thrown by one pitcher in a complete game is 58.

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**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-most-pitches-in-a-game/271118/3 "2004-10-25T22:50:46Z")

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The lowest _theoretical_ number of pitches in a complete game is 9. Here’s how it works:

First pitch, batter hits a triple.

Before the second pitch is thrown, runner tries to steal home. Pitcher steps off the rubber and throws to the catcher (does not count as a pitch.) Batter interferes with the play. Therefore the batter is out, and the runner returns to third base.

Next two batters: same thing happens. Repeat for nine innings.

I don’t think this has ever happened, though. 😉