Perfect Game Collection #1

Happy New Year and hope everyone is looking forward to 2023!

I decided last year to start a sub-collection for pitchers who have pitched a perfect game recognized by the MLB. My dream would be to get a card of each player in the year that they pitched their perfect game, but to start with I decided to just go with any card and work to upgrade later. 

Maybe there was some foreshadowing in completing this set because this past fall my oldest son threw his first "perfect game". Obviously, it's not a "perfect" perfect game since it was a 3-inning win by mercy rule, but it was fun seeing his teammates congratulate him on his "perfect game" none-the-less.

For 2023, my plan is to work on a no-hitter sub-set which will be a bit more involved, but still fun.

There have been 23 official perfect games pitched according to MLB's current definition and with the first two being thrown only five days apart. The last perfect game was thrown in August 2021. Think about how much pitchers have changed in the last 30 years, let alone the last 150 years. Personally, I'm not sure we will ever see another one?

The first two perfect games were in June 1880 by Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters, and John Montgomery Ward of the Providence Grays. Clearly these were very different times. Pitches were required to be underhanded, and batters could call for where they wanted the pitch. Umps had the sole discretion of deciding whether the pitcher delivered to the zone. The pitching distance was 45 feet (one foot less than current Little League International distance). In Ward's game, three outs were recorded on "foul bounds". 

These OBAK cards were the only ones I could find for Richmond and Ward, but they're both kind of cool. One day when I hit the lottery, I may be able to afford some actual tobacco cards of these two, but for now they'll have to suffice.

Cy Young of the Boston Americans was the first modern era player to pitch a perfect game in May 1904.  This game was part of a streak of 24 straight innings without a hit, and 45 innings without giving up a run. For now, I'll be content with this Upper Deck Legendary Cuts until I can afford a real Cy Young...