What a Catfish!!

After the 1967 the Kansas City Athletics of the American League were transferred by owner Charlie O. Finley to Oakland, California. The A's made the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum their new home. On May 9, 1968 fans in the San Francisco Bay area were still getting used to the idea that an American League team was playing in their area. The Minnesota Twins were in town to play the rubber game of a three game series. The game was only the 11th home game that the A's had played in their new home. The A's with their glory years just a few short years away, were enroute to a 82-80 record had a 12-12 record on the year. They had a home record of 3-7, not the kind of record a team wants to present to new fans. The Twins had a 13-12 record and were enroute to a 79-83 record.
On this particular Wednesday evening, the A's sent 22 year old James A. "Catfish" Hunter to the mound to face Dave Boswell. Although seeming young in age Hunter had already pitched 103 games by this point in his young career. The game started off quickly for Hunter as he retired Cesar Tovar, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew in order in the first inning. Killebrew was the first of 11 strikeouts on the game.
Hunter continued inning after inning mowing through the tough Twins lineup until he reached the ninth inning. When he took the mound in the the ninth inning everyone in the park knew histiry was on the line. After retiring pinch hitter Johnny Roseboro and catcher Bruce Look, he faced pich hitter Rich Reese. When Reese was called out on strikes Hunters name went into the history books as the first American League pitcher since 1922 to pitch a perfect game. His 4-0 gem was only the ninth of what is today 18 perfect games ever pitched in Major League Baseball.
It was most certianly a treasured memory for all of the 6298 fans in attendance that evening. One those historic games that fans wish they could be there for when they happen. We dont know when, we dont know where, we dont know by whom, but we do know that someday a pitcher will etch his name in the record book as the 19th pitcher in MLB history to pitch a perfect game, will be today, maybe tonight in Seattle. We can only sit back with a cold drink and see as todays games unfold themselves right before our eyes. As for tomorrow we will drop down to the Texas League and look at another rare play the unassisted triple play. Have a great day wherever you are.