Baseball has always been a game of strategy and skill. Every team has a strategy to win the game, and each pitcher has to be able to execute it. In the modern game, the pitcher is typically removed from the game after a few innings, and rarely does a pitcher manage to stay in the game for the entire nine innings. In recent years, the number of complete games has declined significantly, with the last pitcher to pitch a complete game being San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner in 2016.
What is a Complete Game?
A complete game, also known as a āCGā, is when a pitcher pitches all nine innings of a baseball game without being relieved. The pitcher must pitch all nine innings in order for it to be considered a complete game. It is a rare feat, as most pitchers are usually removed from the game after a few innings due to fatigue or ineffectiveness.
History of the Complete Game
In the early days of baseball, it was not uncommon for pitchers to pitch the entire game. This was due in part to the lack of specialized relief pitchers, which became more common in the late 19th century. As pitchers became more specialized, complete games began to decline. By the mid-20th century, complete games had become a rarity, and they have continued to decline in recent years. The last pitcher to pitch a complete game in the Major League Baseball (MLB) was Madison Bumgarner in 2016.
Madison Bumgarner: The Last MLB Pitcher to Pitch a Complete Game
Madison Bumgarner is a professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft and made his major league debut in 2009. Bumgarner has been one of the most successful pitchers in the MLB over the past decade, winning three World Series titles with the Giants. He was also the last pitcher to pitch a complete game in the MLB in 2016.
On June 8, 2016, Bumgarner pitched a complete game against the Minnesota Twins. He pitched all nine innings, allowing just one run on five hits and one walk. He struck out eight batters and threw 112 pitches in the game. The Giants won the game 2-1, and Bumgarner was credited with the win. It was the last complete game pitched in the MLB, and it was a fitting end to an era of baseball that was dominated by the complete game.
Legacy of the Complete Game
The decline of the complete game is a reflection of the changing strategies of baseball teams. As teams began to focus more on specialized relief pitchers, the complete game became less common. While it is unlikely that the complete game will ever make a comeback in the modern game, it will always hold a special place in the hearts of baseball fans. The last pitcher to pitch a complete game in the MLB was Madison Bumgarner, and his feat will always be remembered as one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the game.
Conclusion
The last pitcher to pitch a complete game in the MLB was Madison Bumgarner in 2016. While the complete game is a rare feat these days, it is still an impressive accomplishment and one that will always be remembered. Bumgarner is a fitting last pitcher to pitch a complete game in the MLB, and his legacy will live on for many years to come.