What Amazing Feat Do Mark Buehrle, Cy Young, and Sandy Koufax Have in Common?

Mark Buehrle completed the 18th perfect game in Major League History today, further cementing his place in the record books among the all-time greats who have ever toed the rubber. And before you start thinking that I’m simply ripe with excitement and hyperbole because my favorite pitcher of all-time just threw a perfect game, consider this:

There are now six pitchers in Major League history who have thrown a perfect game and a no-hitter: Randy Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Addie Joss, Cy Young, and Jim Bunning.  Four are in the Hall of Fame, and Randy Johnson will be. Mark Buehrle may not ever get the credit I believe he deserves while he is playing, but if he keeps pitching another 5, 6, 7 years he very well could find himself in Cooperstown as well.

And if Buehrle decides not to hang up his cleats early, as he has suggested he will do, Buehrle very well could make a legit run at 300 wins, assuming he stays as healthy as he has always been.

But even as amazing as the group above is that he has joined, it can be narrowed down even further to include only three names: Buehrle, Cy Young, and Koufax.  What do these three pitching greats have in common? They share the most amazing combined 2-game pitching lines in the history of Major League Baseball.

We know that no pitcher has ever thrown two perfect games, but these three have come the closest. Check out the combined stat line from Mark Buehrle’s perfect game and no-no, and then the combined stat lines from Koufax’s best no-hitter and perfect game and Young’s perfect game and best no-hitter:

• Mark Buehrle: 18 innings, 0 hits, 1 BB
• Sandy Koufax: 18 innings, 0 hits, 1BB
• Cy Young: 18 innings, 0 hits, 1 BB

The only difference is that Koufax had 26 combined Ks over his 18 innings, while Buehrle had 14.  I’m not sure about Young, as I couldn’t find the box scores for his no-hitters and perfect games.

Regardless, any time you are in a group of players that includes only you, Sandy Koufax, and Cy Young…you’ve done something pretty special. And it’s about time that baseball fans across the country wake up and realize what White Sox fans have known for a long time: that Mark Buehrle is the most underrated ace in Major League Baseball and truly something special. 

Sox fans didn’t need today’s perfect game to confirm this, as we see Buehrle’s consistent excellence on a year in, year out basis.  Hopefully though, today’s performance helps to bring others around to our enlightened point of view. 

What a career: clutch ace of a consistent playoff contender; World Series champion; no-hitter; perfect game. Perhaps one of these days Mark will also add a Cy Young Award to the mantle.  

Congratulations on a hell of a career to this point Mark, and on authoring one of the 18 greatest single-game pitching stories in the long and storied history of Major League Baseball. “Perfect game” is going to look great on your Cooperstown plaque one of these days.

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* – Mark Buehrle photo credit: Jim Prisching / AP Photo via ABCNews.com

Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko Make History By Going Back-to-Back for 300th Career Homeruns

Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko both joined the 300 Homerun Club today as the Chicago White Sox won their third straight game and moved back to a game over .500. And while a player reaching the 300 homer plateau in and of itself is not extraordinarily historic, two players reaching a century milestone in back-to-back at bats most certainly is extraordinarily historic.

And that is exactly what Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko did today against the Detroit Tigers, as two of the heroes of the White Sox 2005 World Series team proved that they are still on top of their game. Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye hit back-to-back homeruns, the 300th career homerun for each, in the 2nd inning of Tigers starter Zach Miner. It marks the first time in Major League Baseball history that two teammates reached a century milestone in back-to-back at bats.

I cannot wait to hear Hawk Harrelson’s calls of these two jacks.

And, of course, not to be outdone, Carlos Quentin went 4-5 and jacked two dingers today, his 3rd and 4th of the season, putting to rest the Spring Training whispers that Quentin’s power may be slow in returning after his wrist injury last season. (What idiot would say that?) Something tells me Carlos Quentin will be the next White Sox player to reach 300 homeruns. Just a hunch.

After today’s 10-6 White Sox victory, the first of the season for starter Gavin Floyd (1-1), the White Sox are all alone in first place in the AL Central at 4-3, a half game up on the Tigers, pending the result of the Royals-Indians game later today.

Update: I didn’t get a chance to watch today’s game, but I just read that Dewayne Wise separated his shoulder and will be out indefinitely. Brian Anderson will obviously be getting more ABs in Wise’s absence.

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