On May 5, 1904, Cy Young, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, threw the first perfect game in modern Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Young's perfect game came as his Boston Americans (now known as the Boston Red Sox) faced the Philadelphia Athletics (now the Oakland Athletics) at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston, Massachusetts.
Young, a 37-year-old veteran at the time, was in his 15th season in the majors. He had already established himself as a dominant pitcher, but this game would cement his legacy. The game was a pitchers' duel between Young and Rube Waddell, another Hall of Fame pitcher.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Americans scored a run. Young made that lone run stand up, retiring all 27 batters he faced without allowing a single baserunner. He struck out eight batters and induced 19 groundouts or flyouts.
The perfect game was a testament to Young's incredible skill and durability. He would go on to win 511 games in his career, a record that still stands today. Young's perfect game was the first of only 23 in MLB history, and it remains one of the most iconic moments in baseball history.
The game was also notable for its brevity, lasting just 1 hour and 25 minutes. In an era without television or radio, the 10,267 fans in attendance were treated to a historic performance that they would never forget.
Cy Young's perfect game on May 5, 1904, is a shining example of the timeless nature of baseball and the enduring greatness of its legends. It is a moment that will forever be etched in the annals of sports history.
