Immaculate Inning
When a pitcher strikes out all three batters in an inning and uses just nine pitches, he has accomplished an incredible feat. It’s called an immaculate inning. Little league pitchers do it all the time. Dominating, young pitchers are often a mismatch for less experienced hitters who have never seen a super quick fastball or perish the thought, a curveball. The early years of baseball though turn into high school and summer leagues, and the hitters catch up. Immaculate innings become few and far between.
In over 150 years of major league baseball, amazingly there have been only 108 immaculate innings. Indeed, there have been only 98 pitchers to have done so (seven pitchers have accomplished the feat more than once in their careers). The World Series has seen only one immaculate inning. Kansas City’s Danny Jackson pitched a 3 batters up, 9 strikes, and 3 outs, seventh inning in Game 5 of the 1985 World Series against the Cardinals. While by far the most common immaculate inning is when a pitcher starts the half inning with a strike out, it is still an official immaculate inning when a relief pitcher comes in with runners on base and retires the side with nine strikes. In 2014, Tampa’s Brad Boxberger came into an inning with the bases loaded and did just that.
No pitcher in MLB history has ever thrown two immaculate innings in the same game. Yet, less than two weeks ago we witnessed the history books spinning in Texas. Astros’ pitchers Phil Maton and Luis Garcia both threw immaculate innings in the same June 15 game against the Rangers, the first time this ever happened. There’s another kicker to the story – the same three batters in the Rangers’ lineup struck out in both immaculate innnings!
Max Scherzer and Sandy Koufax, great pitchers and among my personal all-time favorites, are two of only three pitchers who pitched an immaculate inning on three occasions (Chris Sale being the third). Scherzer, affectionately known as “Mad Max” for his competitive nature, may be the most dominant pitcher in this era of baseball. He is an 8-time All-Star, 4-time season games winner, and 3-time season strikeout leader. Pitching for five teams in his fifteen year career to date, he received the Cy Young Award in both leagues (2013 with the Tigers, and 2016-2017 with the Nationals). In 2019, Max became a World champion, as he carried the Nats to their ever World Series title with his dominance on the mound.
No pitcher was as dominant on the mound as the Dodgers’ Koufax during a six-year stretch, 1961-1966. During those years, Sandy’s accomplishments include 6-time All-Star, 5-time NL ERA leader (1962-1966), 4-time MLB strikeout leader (1961, 1963, 1965, 1966), 3-time Cy Young winner (1963, 1965, 1966), and 2-time World Series MVP (1963, 1965). During three of the years he won the NL Triple Crown of pitching, the leader in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. Koufax was the first MLB pitcher to throw four no-hitters and the eighth in history to record a perfect game. Unfortunately, his career ended much too early, age 30, as he experienced arthritis in his left elbow. In 1972, at age 36, he became the youngest entrant ever into the Hall of Fame. My guess is that Scherzer will be joining him five years after Max’s career comes to a close.
This past February I toured Dodger Stadium with a dear friend. We saw the Koufax memorabilia showcased on the tour route – his first contract and all of his awards. We were four months early for the unveiling of the Koufax statue that now honors Sandy outside of the ballpark. Our tour guide mentioned along the way that Koufax, now age 86, often comes to Dodger Stadium and looks fit to pitch today. I’m sure Sandy still envisions, like every pitcher, dominating hitters while on the mound, maybe even throwing an immaculate inning, or perhaps three.
Until next Monday,
your Baseball Bench Coach