Thursday, June 3, 2010

Counting Down a True Rarity: MLB's 20 Perfect Games


Part 3 of 21

2 John Montgomery Ward, Providence Grays June 17, 1880


The pitcher sporting the name of a once famous retail chain matched Richmond's feat just five days later. Monte Ward still stands as the youngest pitcher to ever hurl a perfect game at just 20 years old.


Ward matched Richmond with five K's. Regardless of his performance or the situation, it was his game to finish as he was the only pitcher on the Grays' roster.


Although arm trouble eventually led him to permanently become a position player, Ward posted some eye popping numbers in 1879-1880. After going 47-19, the diminutive right-hander fell short of back-to-back 40-win seasons when he "dropped" to 39-24 record the following season.


Ward was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the strength of his early pitching success and then his later work in the middle infield.


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