Let’s talk sports rarities.
One of the cool things about being a sports fan is watching the game, because you never know when history will be made. Sure, most games play out with average results despite some spectacular play by the athletes. But every once in a while, you can be present at, or view at home, a game in which something special and rare occurs. Even if you miss the game, you can see the highlights of the historic performance in clips later on and discuss it with friends after the fact.
On June 28, Yankees pitcher Domingo German threw a perfect game against the Oakland A’s. It was the first perfect game in Major League Baseball since Felix Hernandez completed one for Seattle against Tampa Bay in 2012. It was only the 24th perfect game in MLB history. Making the feat even more unlikley is that German had been lit up for 10 runs in 3.1 innings his previous start and gave up 17 runs on 15 hits in his last 5.1 innings over two starts. The scenario is similar to Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series perfect game against the Dodgers. In the Yankees right-hander's previous start against the Dodgers, Larsen allowed five runs on five hits in four innings to take the loss. Larsen finished his career with an 81-91 record, but his perfect game is the only one in 118 years of World Series competition. Here’s the rarity factor: in 154 years of Major League Baseball and more than 235,750 games played, the rate of perfect games is 1 in 9,823 games.
Here are some other baseball rarities, how many times they've happened and the rate at which they've occurred.
Two grand slams in one inning: one (Fernando Tatis in 1999) – 1 in 235,750.
Three hits by one batter in one inning: five (last by Johnny Damon in 2003) – 1 in 47,150.
20 strikeouts by a pitcher in nine innings: five (Roger Clemons did it twice and Max Scherzer did it most recently, in 2016.) – 1 in 47,150.
Three sacrifice flies by a batter in a game: 11 (most recently by Joe Lopez in 2008) – 1 in 21,431.
Two grand slams in a game: 13 (most recently by Josh Willingham in 2009) – 1 in 18,134.
Perfect game lost on the 27th batter: 13. On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga of the Tigers retired the first 26 Cleveland batters and got the 27th to hit a grounder to first. First baseman Miguel Cabrera tossed to Galarraga covering for the out, but umpire Jim Joyce erroneously ruled the runner safe on an infield hit. Galarraga also got the next batter, but it goes into the books as a one-hitter and not the perfect game should have been. – 1 in 18,134.
Unassisted triple play: 15 (most recently by Eric Bruntlett in 2009) – 1 in 15,717.
10 or more RBI in a game: 16 (the record for RBI in a game is 12, which has been done twice – Jim Bottomley in 1924 and Mark Whiten in 1993; 10 RBI most recently done by Mark Reynolds in 2018.) – 1 in 14,734.
Four home runs in a game by a batter: 18 (most recently hit by J.D. Martinez in 2017) – 1 in 13,097.
Two inside-the-park home runs in the same game: 18 (Greg Gagne did it most recently in 1986.) – 1 in 13,097.
Immaculate inning – pitcher strikes out three batters on nine pitches: 114 (Three pitchers have thrown three – Sandy Koufax, Chris Sale and Max Scherzer. The last time it was accomplished was by Johan Oviedo, May 24, 2023.) – 1 in 2,226.
Inside-the-park grand slams: 225 (most recently by Raimel Tapia in 2022) – 1 in 1,048.
No-hitters, including perfect games: 319 (Nolan Ryan threw seven of them in 773 starts. The most recent no-hitter was German’s gem in June.) – 1 in 739.
Hit for the cycle, batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game: 343 (most recently by Elly De La Cruz, June 23, 2023). A natural cycle, getting hits in the order of single, double, triple, home run, has been accomplished 14 times, most recently in 2006 by Gary Matthews, Jr. No player has hit more than three cycles in a career. – 1 in 687.
Three home runs in a game: 480 (Johnny Mize did it six times. It was most recently done by Jose Ramirez, June 8, 2023.) – 1 in 491.
Here are a few rarities from other sports:
NBA Basketball
100 points in a game by a player – one (Wilt Chamberlain, March 2, 1962. Kobe Bryant holds the No. 2 spot with 81 points in 2006.) – 1 in 65,000.
70 or more points in a game: 11 (six times by Chamberlain; most recently by Damian Lillard in 2023.) – 1 in 5,909.
60 or more points in a game: 82 (32 times by Chamberlain, last accomplished by Lillard in 2023) – 1 in 793.
Quadruple-double, a player reaching double figures in four categories in the same game – five (most recently by David Robinson in 1994; Hakeem Olajuwon did it twice in 1990) – 1 in 13,000.
30 assists in a game: once (Scott Skiles, 1990) – 1 in 65,000.
25 assists in a game: 16 (most recently by Rajon Rondo in 2017. Fred Van Fleet had a 20-assist game this past season.) – 1 in 4,063.
50 rebounds in a game: two (Chamberlain grabbed 55 in 1960 and Bill Russell took down 51 in 1960.) Since 2000, the top mark is 31 by Kevin Love in 2010 – 50 boards has a rate of 1 in 32,500.
NFL Football
Fair catch kick – a rule that allows a team to call for a fair catch and then have a free place kick or drop kick for a field goal from the point of the catch: 26. Last done successfully in 1976, by Ray Wersching of the Chargers from 45 yards, and last attempted by Joey Slye of Carolina in 2019 (60 yards). There was a memorable miss from 69 yards that fell just short by Mason Crosby of the Packers in 2008. Mark Mosely tried one (and missed) from 74 yards out for Washington in 1979. – 1 in 669
500 yards passing: 26 (last accomplished by Joe Burrow in 2021) The record is 554 by Norm Van Brocklin in 1951. Ben Roethlisberger accomplished the feat four times, three in the regular season and once in the playoffs. – 1 in 669
220 yards rushing: 55 (Adrian Peterson rushed for 296 yards for Minnesota in 2007, and Jamal Lewis picked up 295 for Baltimore in 2003. We count 55 games of 220 yards or more in NFL history, the most recent by Josh Jacobs of the Raiders in 2022.) – 1 in 316
Long returns … no full accurate stats, but rare, nonetheless. Cordarrelle Patterson returned a kickoff a record 109 yards for Minnesota in 2013. Last season, Keisean Nixon returned one 105 yards for the Packers in 2022. Robert Bailey returned a punt a record 103 yards for the Rams in 1994. Ed Reed of the Ravens returned an interception 107 yards in 2008. Jack Tatum of Oakland returned a fumble 104 yards in 1972. Antonio Cromartie returned a missed field goal 109 yards for the Chargers in 2007.
NHL Hockey
10 points in a game: one (Darryl Sittler of Toronto in 1976). – 1 in 61,302
Seven goals in a game: one (Joe Malone of Quebec in 1920). – 1 in 61,302
Six goals in a game: two (Red Berenson of St. Louis in 1968, and Darryl in 1976). – 1 in 30,651
Seven assists in a game: four (Wayne Gretzky did it three times, in 1970, 1985 and 1986; the other belongs to Billy Taylor, Sr., who accomplished the feat in 1947.) – 1 in 15,326
PGA Golf
Hole-in-one on the PGA Tour: 1 in 4.5 rounds (Most tour events have 144 pro players, and half make the cut and play four rounds. Over a four-day event, the chances of a hole-in one are roughly 1 in 1, according to oddsmakers, but that seems overly optimistic.)
Bowling
300-game on the PBA tour: Through June 2023, there have been 35 televised 300 games this year. Among all adult male bowlers, the odds are 11,500 to 1 of rolling perfection and among professional PBA bowlers, the odds are 460-1.
Bottom line: Watch the games … you never know what history you might see. Have you witnessed any rare sports occurrences? Care to share? Let me know at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
