When was MLB's last perfect game? A look at the history of perfectos

Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Rasmussen had perfection in sight on Sunday.

Rasmussen, 27, had gone eight perfect innings, throwing just 79 pitches until Baltimore Orioles' shortstop Jorge Mateo broke up the perfecto. pulling the first pitch of the 9th inning down the left field line and reaching second for a double.

A perfect game from Rasmussen would've been the first in franchise history for Tampa Bay and the 24th in MLB history.

Here are the times perfection has hit the MLB and the history behind those games:

When was the most recent perfect game in MLB?

King Felix last pitched in 2019, but he still owns MLB’s most recent perfect game. On Aug. 15, 2012, Felix Hernandez tossed a perfecto against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2010 AL Cy Young winner struck out 12, including the final batter, to record the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners history.

August 15, 2012: At Safeco Field, Felix Hernandez (@RealKingFelix) throws the first perfect game in Mariners history.

He finished with 12Ks in the 1-0 Mariners win over Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/6yYQPlDO5K

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) August 15, 2020

Hernandez’s outing was actually the last of three perfect games in the 2012 season. Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants (vs. Houston on June 13) and Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox (vs. Seattle on April 21) also threw perfectos that season. Hernandez, Cain and Humber combined for the most perfect games ever in the same season, topping the previous record of two.

How many perfect games have there been in MLB history?

There have been 23 perfect games in MLB history, with the first two coming just days apart all the way back in 1880 courtesy of Lee Richmond and John Ward. Twenty-one perfect games have occurred in the modern era (since 1900) and 17 have come within the last 60 years.

For context, Angels rookie Reid Detmers’ no-hitter last month was the 316th no-no in MLB history, showing just how difficult perfection is to achieve for a pitcher.

MLB is currently in the midst of the longest perfecto-less droughts in the modern era. There have been just three other times over that span where at least nine years went by without one happening.

Has an MLB pitcher ever thrown two perfect games?

MLB’s 23 perfect games were thrown by 23 different pitchers, meaning no player has ever recorded more than one and there has never been a combined perfecto.

The Yankees and White Sox are tied for the most perfect games with three apiece. Meanwhile, the Rays, who were founded in 1998, and Dodgers have each been on the wrong side of a perfect game three times, the most of any team.

Here’s a look at all the perfect games in MLB history:

Felix Hernandez, Mariners: 2012: vs. Rays

Matt Cain, Giants: 2012 vs. Astros

Philip Humber, White Sox: 2012 vs. Mariners

Roy Halladay, Phillies: 2010 vs. Marlins

Dallas Braden, A’s: 2010 vs. Rays

Mark Buehrle, White Sox: 2009 vs. Rays

Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks: 2004 vs. Braves

David Cone, Yankees: 1999 vs. Montreal Expos

David Wells, Yankees: 1998 vs. Twins

Kenny Rogers, Rangers: 1994 vs. Angels

Dennis Martinez, Montreal Expos: 1991 vs. Dodgers

Tom Browning, Reds: 1988 vs. Dodgers

Mike Witt, Angels: 1984 vs. Rangers

Len Baker, Cleveland: 1981 vs. Blue Jays

Catfish Hunter, A’s: 1968 vs. Twins

Sandy Koufax, Dodgers: 1965 vs. Cubs

Jim Bunning, Phillies: 1964 vs. Mets

Don Larsen, Yankees: 1956 World Series vs. Dodgers

Charlie Roberston, White Sox: 1922 vs. Tigers

Addie Joss, Cleveland: 1908 vs. White Sox

Cy Young, Boston: 1904 vs. A’s

John Ward, Providence Grays: 1880 vs. Buffalo Bisons

Lee Richmond, Worcester Ruby Legs: 1880 vs. Cleveland Blues