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True story. I kid you not.
Just twenty-four hours before Felix Hernandez finished his perfect game against the perfecto-prone Tampa Bay Rays, I had pulled a whole bunch of perfect-game related data for a visual I had been meaning to put together ever since Philip Humber threw his gem.
I thought to myself, "What's the rush? I'll just do this when I have time. Who knows when there will be a perfect game again? It could be fourteen years from now."
I seriously thought that. Twenty-four hours later, I was scrambling to finish my data collection. The visual above shows the best lineups ever to fall victim to a perfect game. I used Baseball-Reference's WAR batting runs for the starters in the lineup for the season in which the perfect game was thrown (so, the totals for the three [three!] 2012 perfect games are incomplete).
Observations:
- Mark Buehrle's perfect game stands out above the rest, by far.
- Seems fitting that the World Series perfect game would rank highly.
- King Felix threw the most impressive perfecto so far in 2012.
- Lee Richmond batted second while throwing a perfect game.
- Baseball-Almanac.com actually has box scores for the Richmond and Ward perfect games. They are from 1880, for crying out loud.
- Len Barker faced just one hitter with a positive Rbat. That was John Mayberry.
Here's my data. Let me know if you see something interesting!
Felix Hernandez vs. Tampa Bay Rays (2012): +22 runs
| Age | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Sam Fuld* | -1 |
| B.J. Upton | -1 |
| Matthew Joyce* | 16 |
| Evan Longoria | 7 |
| Ben Zobrist# | 20 |
| Carlos Pena* | -4 |
| Jose Lobaton# | -2 |
| Elliot Johnson# | -1 |
| Sean Rodriguez | -12 |
Matt Cain vs. Houston Astros (2012): –12 runs (–18 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Jordan Schafer CF | -12 |
| Jose Altuve 2B | 10 |
| Jed Lowrie SS | 8 |
| J.D. Martinez LF | -8 |
| Brett Wallace 1B | 5 |
| Chris Johnson 3B | 4 |
| Brian Bogusevic RF | -9 |
| Chris Snyder C | -10 |
| J.A. Happ P | -6 |
Philip Humber vs. Seattle Mariners (2012): –59 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Chone Figgins LF | -9 |
| Dustin Ackley 2B | -8 |
| Ichiro Suzuki RF | -14 |
| Justin Smoak 1B | -17 |
| Kyle Seager 3B | 3 |
| Jesus Montero DH | 0 |
| Michael Saunders CF | -1 |
| Miguel Olivo C | -8 |
| Munenori Kawasaki SS | -5 |
Roy Halladay vs. Florida Marlins (2010): +32 runs (+19 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Chris Coghlan LF | -1 |
| Gaby Sanchez 1B | 6 |
| Hanley Ramirez SS | 20 |
| Jorge Cantu 3B | -5 |
| Dan Uggla 2B | 27 |
| Cody Ross RF | -2 |
| Brett Hayes C | -4 |
| Cameron Maybin CF | -9 |
| Josh Johnson P | -13 |
Dallas Braden vs. Tampa Bay Rays (2010): +45 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Jason Bartlett SS | -4 |
| Carl Crawford LF | 28 |
| Ben Zobrist 2B | 1 |
| Evan Longoria 3B | 30 |
| Carlos Pena 1B | 4 |
| B.J. Upton CF | 5 |
| Willy Aybar DH | -5 |
| Dioner Navarro C | -8 |
| Gabe Kapler RF | -6 |
Mark Buehrle vs. Tampa Bay Rays (2009): +114 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| B.J. Upton CF | -14 |
| Carl Crawford LF | 13 |
| Evan Longoria 3B | 26 |
| Carlos Pena 1B | 20 |
| Ben Zobrist 2B | 37 |
| Pat Burrell DH | 12 |
| Gabe Kapler RF | 0 |
| Michel Hernandez C | -5 |
| Jason Bartlett SS | 25 |
Randy Johnson vs. Atlanta Braves (2004): +53 runs (+47 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Jesse Garcia SS | -7 |
| Julio Franco 1B | 5 |
| Chipper Jones LF | 16 |
| Andruw Jones CF | 7 |
| Johnny Estrada C | 9 |
| J.D. Drew RF | 50 |
| Mark DeRosa 3B | -18 |
| Nick Green 2B | -9 |
| Mike Hampton P | -6 |
David Cone vs. Montreal Expos (1999): +22 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Wilton Guerrero DH | -4 |
| Terry Jones CF | -3 |
| Rondell White LF | 18 |
| Vladimir Guerrero RF | 37 |
| Jose Vidro 2B | 10 |
| Brad Fullmer 1B | -3 |
| Chris Widger C | -2 |
| Shane Andrews 3B | -18 |
| Orlando Cabrera SS | -13 |
David Wells vs. Minnesota Twins (1998): –63 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Matt Lawton CF | 26 |
| Brent Gates 2B | -14 |
| Paul Molitor DH | -10 |
| Marty Cordova LF | -8 |
| Ron Coomer 1B | -14 |
| Alex Ochoa RF | -12 |
| Jon Shave 3B | -2 |
| Javier Valentin C | -15 |
| Pat Meares SS | -14 |
Kenny Rogers vs. California Angels (1994): –9 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Chad Curtis CF | -8 |
| Spike Owen 3B | 12 |
| Jim Edmonds LF | -8 |
| Chili Davis DH | 27 |
| Bo Jackson RF | 6 |
| J.T. Snow 1B | -14 |
| Rex Hudler 2B | 2 |
| Chris Turner C | -6 |
| Gary Disarcina SS | -20 |
Dennis Martinez vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1991): +42 runs (+28 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Brett Butler CF | 18 |
| Juan Samuel 2B | 7 |
| Eddie Murray 1B | 0 |
| Darryl Strawberry RF | 24 |
| Kal Daniels LF | 6 |
| Lenny Harris 3B | 0 |
| Mike Scioscia C | 6 |
| Alfredo Griffin SS | -19 |
| Mike Morgan P | -14 |
Tom Browning vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1988): +28 runs (+20 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Alfredo Griffin SS | -18 |
| Mickey Hatcher 1B | 0 |
| Kirk Gibson LF | 32 |
| Mike Marshall RF | 12 |
| John Shelby CF | 5 |
| Jeff Hamilton 3B | -5 |
| Rick Dempsey C | 6 |
| Steve Sax 2B | -4 |
| Tim Belcher P | -8 |
Mike Witt vs. Texas Rangers (1984): –41 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Mickey Rivers DH | 0 |
| Wayne Tolleson 2B | -22 |
| Gary Ward LF | 13 |
| Larry Parrish 3B | 14 |
| Pete O'Brien 1B | 11 |
| George Wright CF | -11 |
| Tom Dunbar RF | -4 |
| Donnie Scott C | -15 |
| Curt Wilkerson SS | -27 |
Len Barker vs. Toronto Blue Jays (1981): –77 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Alfredo Griffin SS | -27 |
| Lloyd Moseby RF | -12 |
| George Bell LF | -6 |
| John Mayberry 1B | 8 |
| Willie Upshaw DH | -5 |
| Damaso Garcia 2B | -11 |
| Rick Bosetti CF | -2 |
| Danny Ainge 3B | -20 |
| Buck Martinez C | -2 |
Catfish Hunter vs. Minnesota Twins (1968): +50 runs (+48 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Cesar Tovar 3B | 7 |
| Rod Carew 2B | -1 |
| Harmon Killebrew 1B | 15 |
| Tony Oliva RF | 22 |
| Ted Uhlaender CF | 8 |
| Bob Allison LF | 14 |
| Jackie Hernandez SS | -14 |
| Bruce Look C | -1 |
| Dave Boswell P | -2 |
Sandy Koufax vs. Chicago Cubs (1965): +23 runs
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Don Young CF | -6 |
| Glenn Beckert 2B | -25 |
| Billy Williams RF | 47 |
| Ron Santo 3B | 37 |
| Ernie Banks 1B | 8 |
| Byron Browne LF | -2 |
| Chris Krug C | -11 |
| Don Kessinger SS | -25 |
| Bob Hendley P | 0 |
Jim Bunning vs. New York Mets (1964): +23 runs (+17 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Jim Hickman CF | 4 |
| Ron Hunt 2B | 11 |
| Ed Kranepool 1B | 1 |
| Joe Christopher RF | 24 |
| Jesse Gonder C | 0 |
| Hawk Taylor LF | -8 |
| Charley Smith SS | -1 |
| Amado Samuel 3B | -8 |
| Tracy Stallard P | -6 |
Don Larsen vs. Brooklyn Dodgers (1956): +79 runs (+66 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Jim Gilliam 2B | 12 |
| Pee Wee Reese SS | -12 |
| Duke Snider CF | 38 |
| Jackie Robinson 3B | 8 |
| Gil Hodges 1B | 17 |
| Sandy Amoros LF | 15 |
| Carl Furillo RF | 9 |
| Roy Campanella C | -8 |
| Sal Maglie P | -13 |
Charlie Robertson vs. Detroit Tigers (1922): +68 runs (+54 including pitcher)
| Batting | Rbat |
|---|---|
| Lu Blue 1B | 14 |
| George Cutshaw 2B | -23 |
| Ty Cobb CF | 30 |
| Bobby Veach LF | 21 |
| Harry Heilmann RF | 46 |
| Bob Jones 3B | -20 |
| Topper Rigney SS | 2 |
| Clyde Manion C | -2 |
| Herman Pillette P | -14 |
Addie Joss vs. Chicago White Sox (1908): +12 runs (+4 including pitcher)
| NAME | POS | Rbat |
| Ed Hahn | rf | 7 |
| Fielder Jones | cf | 16 |
| Frank Isbell | 1b | 1 |
| Patsy Dougherty | lf | 16 |
| George Davis | 2b | -6 |
| Freddy Parent | ss | -7 |
| Ossee Schreckengost | c | -1 |
| Lee Tannehill | 3b | -14 |
| Ed Walsh | p | -8 |
Cy Young vs. Philadelphia Athletics (1904): +26 runs (+10 including pitcher)
| NAME | POS | Rbat |
| Topsy Hartsel | lf | 8 |
| Ollie Pickering | cf | -12 |
| Harry Davis | 1b | 24 |
| Lave Cross | 3b | 9 |
| Socks Seybold | rf | 18 |
| Danny Murphy | 2b | 20 |
| Monte Cross | ss | -20 |
| Ossee Schreckengost | c | -21 |
| Rube Waddell | p | -16 |
John Montgomery Ward vs. Buffalo Bisons (1880): +2 runs (–10 including pitcher)
| NAME | POS | Rbat |
| Bill Crowley | rf-c | 7 |
| Hardy Richardson | 3b | 5 |
| Jack Rowe | c-rf | 0 |
| Oscar Walker | lf | -1 |
| Joe Hornung | 2b | 5 |
| Denny Mack | ss | -2 |
| Dude Esterbrook | 1b | -5 |
| Tom Poorman | cf | -7 |
| Pud Galvin | p | -12 |
Lee Richmond vs. Cleveland Blues (1880): +9 runs (+7 including pitcher)
| NAME | POS | Rbat |
| Fred Dunlap | 2b | 16 |
| Frank Hankinson | 3b | -8 |
| Doc Kennedy | c | -9 |
| Bill Phillips | 1b | 5 |
| Orator Shaffer | rf | 9 |
| Jim McCormick | p | -2 |
| Barney Gilligan | cf | -2 |
| Jack Glasscock | ss | -2 |
| Ned Hanlon | lf | 0 |