# Perfect game : Pitchers :: ? : Batters **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 7, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586 "2022-07-07T22:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/1 "2022-07-07T22:57:25Z")
What is the equivalent achievement for batters to a pitcher throwing a perfect game? Hitting for the cycle? A home run every at bat? Is there even one? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/2 "2022-07-07T22:59:04Z")
4 homer game. There’s only been 18. 23 perfect games. 25 if you think MLB is a bunch of assholes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/3 "2022-07-07T23:13:00Z")
A natural cycle(1B,2B,3B,HR in order) has been done 15 times and for fielders, an unassisted triple play has been done 15 times with two of those game-ending. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/4 "2022-07-07T23:25:52Z")
I would venture a perfect-batting game would be one where the batter gets a hit every single at-bat. Although that may be setting the bar low. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/5 "2022-07-07T23:29:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I would venture a perfect-batting game would be one where the batter gets a hit every single at-bat. Although that may be setting the bar low. - Likely, there’s too many to count. Unless you confine it to a minimum number of ABs in a game. ETA: > **[List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_single-game_hits_leaders)** > > In baseball, a hit is credited to a batter when he reaches first base – or any subsequent base – safely after hitting a fair ball, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice. One hundred nineteen different players have recorded at least six hits in a single nine-inning Major League Baseball game. Five players have accomplished the feat more than once in their career; no player has ever recorded more than seven hits in a nine-inning game. Davy Force was the first player to colle Th... 9 inning game 97 went 6-6 2 went 7-7 No one went 8-8 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/6 "2022-07-08T00:51:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > 25 if you think MLB is a bunch of assholes. Say what…? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/7 "2022-07-08T01:00:20Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > 25 if you think MLB is a bunch of assholes. > > Say what…? - Armando Galarraga threw a perfect game that was ruined by an admitted bad call by the umpire. If MLB can change rules and then go back _decades_ to take away no-hitters that don’t qualify under the new rules, they could have fixed a mistake by their official. Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings before giving up hits in the 13th. Same deal with going back in the past with new rules. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/8 "2022-07-08T01:07:46Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > What is the equivalent achievement for batters to a pitcher throwing a perfect game? [Scoring the winning run against a pitcher who throws a complete-game no-hitter?](https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-23-1964-ken-johnson-pitches-a-no-hitter-for-houston-and-loses-the-game-to-reds/) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/9 "2022-07-08T01:15:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If MLB can change rules and then go back _decades_ to take away no-hitters that don’t qualify under the new rules I think I know what you’re referring to here, but can you provide a deeper explanation? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/10 "2022-07-08T01:18:25Z")
I did. Harvey Haddix. I’m sure there were other extra inning games that the pitcher went 9 hitless and gave up a hit in extra innings. There were some games that were never a full 9 that I can see demoting. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/11 "2022-07-08T01:20:12Z")
Ahh okay, gotcha. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/12 "2022-07-08T02:12:16Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I did. Harvey Haddix. So you are saying that the MLB ruling on the Harvey Haddix game was changed years after it was played? I don’t believe that it was ever ruled a no-hitter, and it still is not recognized as such. Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/13 "2022-07-08T02:19:19Z")
> **[Harvey Haddix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Haddix)** > > Harvey Haddix Jr. (September 18, 1925 – January 8, 1994) was an American professional baseball left-handed pitcher and pitching coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals (1952–1956), Philadelphia Phillies (1956–57), Cincinnati Redlegs (1958), Pittsburgh Pirates (1959–1963), and Baltimore Orioles (1964–65). > Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside Springfield. He was nicknamed "the Kitten" in St. Louis for his resemblance to Harry "The Cat" Brecheen... > In 1991, Major League Baseball changed the definition of a no-hitter to “a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit.” **This retroactively disqualified Haddix** , which some had considered to have thrown a perfect game because he retired the first 27 batters in order. Despite his having thrown more perfect innings than anyone in a single game, **Haddix’s game was taken off the lists of perfect games and no-hitters.** Haddix’s response was "It’s O.K. I know what I did. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/14 "2022-07-08T02:21:46Z")
Great, thanks for sharing. I did not know that fact. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/15 "2022-07-08T02:24:37Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Great, thanks for sharing. I did not know that fact. Ignorance fought. - No problems. There were others who went the regulation nine who got shafted but his was by far the most egregious. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/16 "2022-07-08T02:28:22Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There were others who went the regulation nine who got shafted Yeah, I was watching the Galarraga game as it happened. I couldn’t believe the safe call, and then I couldn’t believe that the other umps didn’t have enough integrity to overrule him. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/17 "2022-07-08T02:46:02Z")
Even more rare than a 4-HR game is a home-run cycle, which has been achieved only a few times in college baseball and softball, once in pro baseball, but never in MLB. It’s when you get a solo HR, 2-run HR, 3-run HR, and grand slam in the same game. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/18 "2022-07-08T12:17:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There were others who went the regulation nine who got shafted but his was by far the most egregious. I think Haddix has the least compelling argument for a perfect game than any of the other no-hitters that were taken away because they didn’t pitch the full 9. What he accomplished was unreal - but it just wasn’t a perfect game. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/19 "2022-07-08T12:25:09Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think Haddix has the least compelling argument for a perfect game than any of the other no-hitters that were taken away because they didn’t pitch the full 9. What he accomplished was unreal - but it just wasn’t a perfect game. Rules at the time gave credit for a 9 inning no-hitter/perfect game even if a hit was given up in extra innings. I don’t object to the “short” no-hitters being taken away as the pitcher didn’t go the full 9. No-hitters have been broken up in the 9th numerous times so that should be the minimum. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586/20 "2022-07-08T17:34:14Z")
You now can’t get credit for a no hitter if you pitch a complete “9 inning” game, but you’re the visiting pitcher and you allowed a run and your team loses 1-0 so they only bat 8 times. That seems wrong to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-game-pitchers-batters/967586.md?page=2)