The immaculate inning is a rare feat in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is defined as a pitcher throwing three up, three down in an inning without allowing a single base runner. Since the inception of the MLB in 1876, only a select few pitchers have managed to achieve this remarkable feat. In this article, we will take a look at the history of the immaculate inning, the pitchers who have accomplished the feat, and some of the statistics that accompany immaculate innings.
History of the Immaculate Inning
The first recorded immaculate inning in MLB history was thrown by John Montgomery Ward for the Providence Grays in 1884. Ward, who was also one of the game’s first star players, achieved the feat against the Philadelphia Quakers on June 17th. Since then, there have been a total of 77 known immaculate innings thrown in the MLB.
Notable Pitchers Who Have Thrown an Immaculate Inning
Throughout the history of MLB, there have been some truly remarkable pitchers who have been able to throw an immaculate inning. Some of the more notable names include Hall of Famers such as Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, and Nolan Ryan. Other greats such as Pedro Martinez, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw have also thrown immaculate innings.
Immaculate Innings by Team
The team with the most immaculate innings thrown is the San Francisco Giants, who have recorded seven over the course of their history. The Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies all have five immaculate innings thrown, while the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have four each. The other teams with at least one immaculate inning thrown are the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and the Oakland A’s.
Immaculate Innings by Decade
The most immaculate innings have been thrown in the 2000s with 17 total. The 1990s are next with 12 total, followed by the 1910s with 10. The 1980s and 2000s have both seen seven immaculate innings, while the 1870s and 1880s have seen six and four, respectively.
Immaculate Innings in Postseason
There have been four immaculate innings thrown in the postseason. The first was thrown by Bob Gibson in 1968, followed by David Cone in the 1995 ALDS. The other two were thrown by Randy Johnson in the 2001 NLDS and Max Scherzer in the 2017 NLDS.
Pitchers with Multiple Immaculate Innings
Only five pitchers have thrown more than one immaculate inning in their careers. The first was Bob Feller, who threw two in 1938 and 1951. Nolan Ryan threw two in 1973 and 1975, while Pedro Martinez threw two in 2000 and 2002. John Lackey threw two immaculate innings in 2011 and 2013, while Max Scherzer has thrown three in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
Other Interesting Facts About Immaculate Innings
• The shortest amount of time it has taken a pitcher to throw an immaculate inning is 12 pitches. This was accomplished by Max Scherzer in 2017.
• The longest amount of time it has taken a pitcher to throw an immaculate inning is 22 pitches. This was accomplished by Randy Johnson in 2001.
• The oldest pitcher to throw an immaculate inning is Roger Clemens, who did so in 2007 at the age of 45.
• The youngest pitcher to throw an immaculate inning is Dwight Gooden, who did so in 1984 at the age of 20.
• The most immaculate innings thrown in a single season is two, which was accomplished by John Lackey in 2013.
• The fewest pitches thrown in an immaculate inning is nine, which was accomplished by eight different pitchers.
Conclusion
The immaculate inning is an incredibly rare feat in Major League Baseball. Since the inception of the MLB in 1876, only 77 known immaculate innings have been thrown. The most notable pitchers to achieve the feat include Hall of Famers such as Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, and Nolan Ryan. Five pitchers have thrown more than one immaculate inning in their careers, with Max Scherzer leading the way with three. There have only been four recorded immaculate innings in the postseason, with the most recent being thrown by Max Scherzer in 2017. The immaculate inning is a testament to the skill and determination of the pitchers who have achieved this remarkable feat.