Witnesses to the Truth

Summary

Up until June of 2010 there had been 20 perfect games in the recorded history of major league baseball. A perfect game is one in which no runner from the opposing team reaches first base safely. Every opposing batter is retired—27 outs in a row. Up until June of 2010, only twenty pitchers in major league history had ever done that. On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga of the Detriot Tigers was about to become the twentyfirst. He had retired 26 Cleveland Indians in a row. And the whole team had done it together. Galarraga’s pitching had certainly been brilliant, but he had logged only 3 strikeouts. Twenty‐three batters had hit the ball, but consistent play on the part of the infield, and at least one remarkable outfield play, had kept every batter from reaching first
base.