Harvey Haddix 12 perfect innings.

[tweedlebee]

May 26, 1959 Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings and lost the game after an error, sac bunt, IBB, and a double in the 13th.

It was almost the best game ever pitched. Lew Burdette pitched the whole game for the Braves giving up 12 hits and got the win.

[ol' aches and pains]

"Almost" the best game ever pitched? Who pitched a better one you could cite?

[BigRon]

I started a thread on this last year. I still remember listening to the whole game- an amazing experience.

[tweedlebee]

"Almost" the best game ever pitched? Who pitched a better one you could cite?

I added "almost" because Haddix lost the game. He holds the record for retiring 36 straight batters.

The next closest game is Armando Galarraga (June 2, 2010) because he actually got 28 outs in 9 innings because of Jim Joyce's bad call on what should have been the 27th out.

I would also put Rick Wise in the running September 18, 1971. He gave up 3 Runs on 4 Hits in the first inning plus one batter in the second, and then set the record of 32 consecutive batters retired by a winning pitcher.

BigRon,

I still remember listening to the whole game- an amazing experience.

Did you listen to the Braves or Pirates broadcast? How exciting was the Top of the 9th?

[leewileyfan]

I saw Stubby Overmire pitch for the Tigers [I believe it was 1943] against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He was masterful until his RF dropped a routine fly ball for a two-base error, from which the Yankees scored their lone run. Stubby went on, inning after inning, until losing 2-1 ... I believe it was the 14th inning.

That was a heartbreaking loss.

I was dressing for work when I heard the news of Haddix loss, the morning after it happened. Tough to beat that for a baseball heartbreaker.

[csh19792001]

Between April 25th and May 17th, 1904, C Young pitched 45 consecutive scoreless innings over 5 starts. All five were complete games (obviously).

More impressive than that, during that stretch he pitched 24 consecutive hitless innings. This is an all time record.

THAT stretch included a perfect game against Rube Waddell, an all time great, and a 1 hitter against Jesse Tannehill. These were 2 of the best pitchers in baseball.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Didn't Jim Barr retire 41 batters ina row over two games

ANyway the problem I have with Haddix game being called the best ever:

1) he lost the game
2) he gave up a hit and a walk (IBB?) as I recall

too many others have done more, I E pitched longer games without giving up a run or losing the game

[BigRon]

BigRon,

Did you listen to the Braves or Pirates broadcast? How exciting was the Top of the 9th?

I listened to the Pirates broadcast- Bob Prince and Jim Woods- what a team! I remember how much static was on the AM radio (KDKA in Pittsburgh). It was a stormy night in Milwaukee. I don't remember all the details of the 9th, except that I do remember Haddix striking out Burdette for the perfect game., and Prince making the announcement, something lioke-"Ladies and gentlemen, Harvey Haddix has just pitched a 9 inning no run, no hit perfect game!" I also remember Skinner almost hitting a homer in the 6th or 7th, but a wind blast held the ball in. I also clearly remember the fateful/horrible 12th inning- Hoak's throwing error, Mathews' sac bunt, the intentional walk to Aaron, and then the blast by Adcock and the baserunning SNAFU.

[tweedlebee]

Thanks the information BigRon.

[ol' aches and pains]

Didn't Jim Barr retire 41 batters ina row over two games

ANyway the problem I have with Haddix game being called the best ever:

1) he lost the game
2) he gave up a hit and a walk (IBB?) as I recall

too many others have done more, I E pitched longer games without giving up a run or losing the game

I don't completely buy into the Sabermetric theory that wins is a team stat, not a pitcher's stat, but in this case...
The Pirates had 13 innings to score one stinkin' run to win the game for Haddix. He held off the reigning
National League champions, including Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews for 12 innings.

What Jim Barr did over two games was just that: over two games. This was one game. The only game in history where a starting pitcher pitched 12 perfect innings. Ergo-the greatest game ever pitched

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I don't completely buy into the Sabermetric theory that wins is a team stat, not a pitcher's stat, but in this case...
The Pirates had 13 innings to score one stinkin' run to win the game for Haddix. He held off the reigning
National League champions, including Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews for 12 innings.

What Jim Barr did over two games was just that: over two games. This was one game. The only game in history where a starting pitcher pitched 12 perfect innings. Ergo-the greatest game ever pitched

Looking at the NL stats for 1959 the Braves were near the top in overall offensive stats, second to only the Reds.

Also in reply to another post, the fact that Haddix lost that game takes nothing away from pitching 12 perfect innings and on top of that, against one of the best hitting teams in the NL in 1959.

[ol' aches and pains]

BTW, supposedly after the game in the clubhouse a reporter asked Haddix if that was the best game he ever pitched.