Perfect Games in MLB History: Baseball's Rarest Achievement

Perfect games represent pitching perfection: 27 batters faced, 27 batters retired, zero baserunners allowed. Only 23 perfect games have been thrown in MLB history spanning over a century, making them rarer than no-hitters. Memorable perfection includes Don Larsen's 1956 World Series gem, Sandy Koufax's dominating 1965 performance, and Roy Halladay's 2010 regular season masterpiece followed by a postseason no-hitter. Perfect games require exceptional stuff, pinpoint command, defensive support, and significant good fortune. Near-misses create legendary heartbreak, with eighth and ninth-inning hits or walks denying perfection at the final moments.