What is the best game ever pitched? (1 Viewer)

[The Man from Laramie]

Obviously Larsen's perfect game comes to mind, but I'm leaving the door open for any ideas.

Tom Cheney's 21 K game? Clemens' or Woods' 20?

This came to mind because last night I watched the Yankees 1996 World Series film, and the narrator said John Smoltz thought Game 5 was the best game he ever pitched.

Atlanta Braves IP H R ER BB SOSmoltz L (1-1) 8.0 4 1 0 3 10Against a late 90s World Series team, that's pretty impressive.So I'm guessing it's probably a perfect game, but which one?

 

[Greco]

Game 7

Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR

Morris W(2-0) 10 7 0 0 2 8 0

 

[Limp Ditka]

Game 7Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HRMorris W(2-0) 10 7 0 0 2 8 0

Only game that compares IMO is Larsen's perfect game

 

[Bob Henry]

Game 7

Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR

Morris W(2-0) 10 7 0 0 2 8 0

Only game that compares IMO is Larsen's perfect game

Great choice, Greco..I'll nominate a couple other notable/memorable games pitched:

Johnny Vandermeer's back-to-back no-nos.. pick one.
Mike Scott's no-no to clinch the pennant for the Stros in 1986
(homer alert)Kenny Rogers against the Yankees in last year ALDS - wow.. dude was FIRED UP. Perhaps the most ENJOYABLE game I've seen in my lifetime as a Tiger fan.

 

[Greco]

Game 7

Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR

Morris W(2-0) 10 7 0 0 2 8 0

Only game that compares IMO is Larsen's perfect game

Great choice, Greco..I'll nominate a couple other notable/memorable games pitched:

Johnny Vandermeer's back-to-back no-nos.. pick one.
Mike Scott's no-no to clinch the pennant for the Stros in 1986

(homer alert)Kenny Rogers against the Yankees in last year ALDS - wow.. dude was FIRED UP. Perhaps the most ENJOYABLE game I've seen in my lifetime as a Tiger fan.

Agreed 100%....by far the most electric atmosphere I have ever been a part of.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Koufax - Game 7 of '65 World Series 9 IP 3 H 0 R 3 BB 10 K

He did this after throwing a complete game shutout in Game 5

 

[The Man from Laramie]

I'll nominate a couple other notable/memorable games pitched:

Johnny Vandermeer's back-to-back no-nos.. pick one.

Wouldn't you have to pick the second? Isn't that the one that makes the feat interesting?

 

[The Man from Laramie]

I'll nominate a couple other notable/memorable games pitched:

(homer alert)Kenny Rogers against the Yankees in last year ALDS - wow.. dude was FIRED UP. Perhaps the most ENJOYABLE game I've seen in my lifetime as a Tiger fan.

His hands were greased up, too.

 

[Bob Henry]

I'll nominate a couple other notable/memorable games pitched:

Johnny Vandermeer's back-to-back no-nos.. pick one.

Wouldn't you have to pick the second? Isn't that the one that makes the feat interesting?

Sure, of course, I wasn't alive so I can't tell you which one was more impressive.. collectively, it's insane.

 

[David Yudkin]

Tom Cheney's 21 K game?

In 16 innings though.

 

[Bob Henry]

Another one of my favorites was Nolan Ryan in 1991:

9 IP, no hits, 2 BB, 16 Ks - 7th no-no at 44 years old. Wow, just wow.

 

[Philo Beddoe]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York Yankees

Pedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

 

[Statorama]

Another one of my favorites was Nolan Ryan in 1991:9 IP, no hits, 2 BB, 16 Ks - 7th no-no at 44 years old. Wow, just wow.

That was incredible, especially considering his age.

 

[Statorama]

Tom Cheney's 21 K game?

In 16 innings though.

that makes it less impressive to you?

 

[Workhorse]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York YankeesPedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

That was going to be my choice too.Did it in Yankee Stadium, no less. Against a lineup with a team OPS+ of 117.

 

[Hands_on_the_Heisman]

Don Larsen's Perfect Game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series is hard to argue with:

Only no hitter in postseason play.

Came against the obscenely stacked Brooklyn Dodgers -- Basically the same team that beat the Yankees the year before to win the World Series.

Threw 97 pitches -- and only had one 3 ball count

Coming off a 2 inning outing in Game 2 where the Yanks spotted him a 6 run lead and he lasted only 2 innings, giving up 4 runs.

And the kicker to it all:

"The unconcerned Larsen even took a cigarette break in the clubhouse during the seventh inning stretch." - Wikipedia

 

[Statorama]

The best game I ever personally witnessed was the Kerry Wood 20K game against the Astros. A 2-0 one hitter where he was just nasty.

 

[Statorama]

Don Larsen's Perfect Game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series is hard to argue with:Only no hitter in postseason play.Came against the obscenely stacked Brooklyn Dodgers -- Basically the same team that beat the Yankees the year before to win the World Series.Threw 97 pitches -- and only had one 3 ball countComing off a 2 inning outing in Game 2 where the Yanks spotted him a 6 run lead and he lasted only 2 innings, giving up 4 runs.And the kicker to it all:"The unconcerned Larsen even took a cigarette break in the clubhouse during the seventh inning stretch." - Wikipedia

I figured all the other posts were a battle for second place.

 

[David Yudkin]

Tom Cheney's 21 K game?

In 16 innings though.

that makes it less impressive to you?

IMO, the 16 IP is more impressive than the 21 Ks.20 K in 9 IP = 2.22 K/IP

21 K in 16 IP = 1.31 K/IP

That would basically be 11 or 12 strikouts in a 9 inning outing.

 

[Night Hawks]

Kerry Wood's fifth career start.

20 K, 1 hit (and it was a softly hit grounder that hit off the third baseman's glove, 0 BB, 0 R.

Most strikeouts ever, could easily have been a no-hitter with 20 K (some thought it was an error - i wasn't one of those).

Even on the last K to end the game, his hook was freakin' nasty. Anybody else remember this? Can anybody back me up?

Sure it wasn't a no-hitter. But I think the most Ks in a no-no were 14 or something like that. Also, there have been other 20K games. But neither of those was a 1-hitter with no walks.

 

[Night Hawks]

The best game I ever personally witnessed was the Kerry Wood 20K game against the Astros. A 2-0 one hitter where he was just nasty.

Oh here it is. lol.

 

[JohnnyU]

Kevin Costner pitched a perect game. I saw it on TV. Had to be one of the best ever. My second choice was Jack Morris in the WS. Smoltz was pretty good too.

 

[MrPhoenix]

Johnny Vandermeer's back-to-back no-nos.. pick one.

[Despyzer]Vandermeer's great feat doesn't qualify since he didn't pitch against blacks or hispanics. The talent pool was diluted.[/Despyzer]

 

[Gaddis]

Kerry Wood's fifth career start. 20 K, 1 hit (and it was a softly hit grounder that hit off the third baseman's glove, 0 BB, 0 R.Most strikeouts ever, could easily have been a no-hitter with 20 K (some thought it was an error - i wasn't one of those). Even on the last K to end the game, his hook was freakin' nasty. Anybody else remember this? Can anybody back me up? Sure it wasn't a no-hitter. But I think the most Ks in a no-no were 14 or something like that. Also, there have been other 20K games. But neither of those was a 1-hitter with no walks.

The one hit went off rookie third baseman Kevin Orie's glove. The play could have been made, and some argue that it should have been made, but I think scoring it a hit was the correct call.Oh, and Kerry also went yard in that game, accounting for the only run in the Cubs' 1-0 victory.Best game by an individual player I've ever seen. I was working at a newspaper at the time and the guys in the sports department had the game on. By the middle of the 7th inning, the entire staff--about 70 people--was huddled around that TV in absolute awe. It was a stunning performance. Absolutely stunning.

 

[shake zula]

Beckett vs. Yankees 2003 W.S. game 6 on 3 days rest, yankee stadium, 23 years old...

Inn9 H5 ER0 R0 BB2 K9 107-71

best game i've ever seen pitched. Period.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Kevin Costner pitched a perect game. I saw it on TV. Had to be one of the best ever. My second choice was Jack Morris in the WS. Smoltz was pretty good too.

I saw that game too. It was like I knew what he was thinking while he was pitching.I'll go with the Morris game, but if we're talking about in person, I saw Wilson Alverez no-hit the O's in his MLB "debut". (in quotes b/c it wasn't his first appearence)

 

[Knightro]

I'll call Ron Necciai's 3rd start in the minors in 1952

9.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 BB, 27 K's (catcher dropped 3rd strike in the 9th for the 2nd out)

That start came after his 1st start in which he struck out 20, and his 2nd start in which he struck out 19.

His start after the 27 K performance involved him striking out 24 batters.

He was promoted shortly thereafter with a 4-0 record with 109 K's in 43 IP and a 0.42 ERA

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ron_Necciai

http://www.blueridgecountry.com/necciai/

 

[The Man from Laramie]

I'll call Ron Necciai's 3rd start in the minors in 1952

9.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 BB, 27 K's (catcher dropped 3rd strike in the 9th for the 2nd out)

That start came after his 1st start in which he struck out 20, and his 2nd start in which he struck out 19.

His start after the 27 K performance involved him striking out 24 batters.

He was promoted shortly thereafter with a 4-0 record with 109 K's in 43 IP and a 0.42 ERA

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ron_Necciai

http://www.blueridgecountry.com/necciai/

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Game 1 of the 1968 World Series. Cardinals and Tigers. Bob Gibson and his 1.12 ERA against 31 game winner Denny McLain.

Gibson W (1-0) 9.0 5 0 0 1 17

Complete domination under the pressure of not only the World Series, but also pitching against a 31 game winner. I believe the 17 postseason strikeouts is still a major league record.

 

[MrJimmy]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York YankeesPedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

Best pitched game I ever saw, by far. Beyond the stat line, Pedro was able to outwit and overpower hitters at will.

 

[jabarony]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York YankeesPedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

Best pitched game I ever saw, by far. Beyond the stat line, Pedro was able to outwit and overpower hitters at will.

Of course the best HAS to be a Yankees-Sox game. Everyone else is living in fantasyland.

 

[Bob Henry]

I'll call Ron Necciai's 3rd start in the minors in 1952

9.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 BB, 27 K's (catcher dropped 3rd strike in the 9th for the 2nd out)

That start came after his 1st start in which he struck out 20, and his 2nd start in which he struck out 19.

His start after the 27 K performance involved him striking out 24 batters.

He was promoted shortly thereafter with a 4-0 record with 109 K's in 43 IP and a 0.42 ERA

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ron_Necciai

http://www.blueridgecountry.com/necciai/

I thought you were pulling a Syd Finch on us at first... whooooaaa nellie!

 

[wilked]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York YankeesPedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

this is what I though of too...Pedro was utterly and completely dominant

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

September 10, 1999 - Boston Red Sox Vs. New York YankeesPedro Martinez strikes out a Yankee Franchise record 17 batters while throwing a one hitter in what Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer called the best pitched game he had ever witnessed

this is what I though of too...Pedro was utterly and completely dominant

I don't even follow this like all of you do, and that was what I immediately thought of.I'm a Dodgers fan. We got Delino Deshields for him.