Today in Phillies History: Jim Bunning Throws a Father’s Day Perfect Game

Thatballsouttahere ^ | June 21 ,2021 | Gabrielle Starr

[sopo]

But even in an era when it was presumed that the starter could go eight or nine innings, this game by the late Jim Bunning stood alone.

In 1964, the first day of summer was also Father’s Day. It also ended up being the day Bunning, himself a father of seven, would make history as the first modern pitcher to throw a no-hitter in both the American League and National League.

And not only was it the first no-hitter by a Phillie since Johnny Lush in 1906, but it was also a perfect game.

Bunning’s children were not present for the game and would have missed the historic moment on television had it not been for one of his daughters, Mary Fran. She watched the entire game and told the others to join her to watch their father make history.

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TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: bunning; fathers; nohitter

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Perfect game on Father's Day in 1964 for father of 7; later a Senator from Kentucky

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unfortunately one of the sons became a federal judge, and father lived long enough to see this:

A Kentucky clerk was sent to jail Thursday after a judge found her in contempt of court for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses to gay couples.

Kim Davis, a clerk in Rowan County, was found in contempt of court on Thursday morning by Judge David Bunning. Davis has said granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples would “violate God’s definition of marriage” and infringe on her personal beliefs as an Apostolic Christian.

[PGalt]

When he was a Tiger, they had a very good starting rotation-Jim Bunning, Frank Lary and Don Mossi.

[sopo]

Jim himself was an early target of the turtle:

Like his eventual successor in the Senate (Rand Paul), Bunning was wary of the Federal Reserve and its powers. When Ben Bernanke’s nomination to lead the Fed came before the Senate, Bunning used the occasion to denounce both Bernanke and the Fed itself. “I will do everything I can to stop your nomination and drag out the process as long as possible,” Bunning said. “We must put an end to your and the Fed’s failures, and there is no better time than now.”

He did not seek a third term in 2010. Bunning’s retirement was not entirely voluntary; during his final years in the Senate, he battled with the GOP leadership, including his home-state colleague, Mitch McConnell. In July 2009, when he announced he was not running again, he was notably critical of his party: “Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/27/jim-bunning-dies-121196

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Frank Lary, the Yankee killer

[bankwalker]

I remember watching it on black and white teevee.

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brought to you by Three Ring Pete and Ballantine,Ballantine Beer?

[PhillyPhreeper]

Not as remarkable as a perfect game but Nick Castellanos hit a grand slam today.

[HerrBlucher]

If I remember correctly, bunning pitched sidearm.

[PGalt]

Yes

[Verginius Rufus]

Note that the perfect game was on Father's Day, but it fell on June 21 that year. Summer never starts as early as June 15.

Bunning was the first National League pitcher to pitch a perfect game. (Brooklyn was on the losing side of a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.)

[sopo]

yes, another of the articles states that, some have videos

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swept the Bluejays while the mets were swept by the Rays, teeter totter all year long so far:

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Hank Aguirre was a pretty good pitcher too; I didn’t remember but Baseball Reference says he won ERA title in 1962 @2.21 ( of course he was more notable for his hitting, .082 lifetime BA, I remember his name was never mentioned without bringing up his hitting). But here’s the crazy thing I found. Unsolicited ,Yahoo puts up AI summary:

Aguirre won the ERA title in Major League Baseball during the 1981 season while playing for the New York Mets.

Key Details:

ERA Achievement: Aguirre finished the season with an earned run average (ERA) of 2.09.
Team: New York Mets.
Season Context: The 1981 season was split due to a players’ strike, affecting overall statistics.
Aguirre’s performance that season was notable, contributing to his recognition as one of the top pitchers in the league.

He retired in 1970, he never played for the Mets and according to Baseball Reference, he was the only Aguirre ever to play Major League baseball.