Jim Bunning Perfect Game Anniversary

Fifty six years in duration, usually means exact day/date anniversaries and today marks such an anniversary, for Jim Bunning’s historic perfect game, pitched by the then father of 7, on another Father’s Day, at first year Shea Stadium, in the first game of a doubleheader, vs the New York Mets.

Bunning, who hurled a no hitter while pitching for the Detroit Tigers, at Fenway Park in Boston vs the Red Sox in 1958, hurled the first perfect game by a National League pitcher since John Montgomery Ward did so 84 years earlier. Montgomery hurled for the Providence Grays, pitching the perfect game vs the Buffalo Bisons.  

It was the first regular season perfect game in the major leagues since Charles Robertson hurled one for the White Sox vs the Tigers in 1922.

Don Larsen, pitching for the Yankees, of course, turned in a still unmatched perfect game vs the Brooklyn Dodgers in the pivotal 5th game of the 1956 World Series.

Click below to view a fine piece by long time, former Phillies’ director of public relations and also a one time writer, Larry Shenk, about Bunning’s “perfecto.”

I will have additional notes in tomorrow’s post.

Phillies’ Jim Bunning had a perfect Father’s Day in 1964 

A great broadcaster, Bob Murphy makes the television call. Another great, Lindsey Nelson was on the radio.