Roy Halladay Throws a Perfect Game

Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay threw a perfect game tonight in Miami against the Florida Marlins.

I saw the final three outs of the perfecto on the MLB Network. Halladay faced three pinch hitters. Mike Lamb hit a long fly out to Shane Victorino, Wes Helms struck out looking and Ronny Paulino hit a sharp ground ball to third baseman Juan Castro to end the game and give the Phillies a 1-0 victory.

Halladay's masterpiece comes only 20 days after Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

To put that into perspective, when Jim Bunning threw a perfect game for the Phillies in 1964 against the New York Mets it was the first regular season perfect game since 1922 when Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox pulled it off against the Detroit Tigers.

In case you are wondering, it's the same Jim Bunning who is now the junior Senator from Kentucky (or at least will be until January).

Needless to say, Halladay joins Bunning as the only Phillies to throw perfect games.

Halladay actually came within one out of throwing a perfect game in his second big league start with the Toronto Blue Jays. On September 27, 1998, all that stood between Halladay and perfection was Bobby Higginson who hit a ball over the left field wall at Toronto's Skydome (as it was then known). However, Halladay would settle for a one-hitter for his first big league victory.

Tonight's perfect game gives Halladay his 155th victory of his MLB career.

When the All-Star Game was held in New York in 2008 there was a parade in honor of that year's All-Stars as well as Baseball Hall of Famers. My Dad and older brother attended the parade. When my Dad saw Halladay he said loudly, "Roy Halladay. The best pitcher in baseball." Halladay saw Dad with his camera and smiled.

Well, if people didn't know Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball they sure do now.