On September 28, 1988, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Orel Hershiser walked onto the mound at Olympic Stadium in Montreal and retired all 27 batters he faced. This 2-0 victory against the Montreal Expos marked the 13th official perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Hershiser didn't just throw a gem; he capped off one of the most dominant individual pitching stretches the sport has ever witnessed, arriving just days after he broke Don Drysdale's legendary consecutive scoreless innings record.
Understanding this performance requires looking at the immense pressure surrounding the Dodgers during the final week of the 1988 regular season. Los Angeles was locked in a tense National League West pennant race, and Hershiser was working on short rest to ensure his team secured the division title. Instead of buckling under the weight of history and divisional stakes, the man nicknamed "Bulldog" delivered a masterclass in pitch sequencing, mental toughness, and defensive execution that baseball fans still study today.
The Context of the 1988 Season
To appreciate the magnitude of Hershiser's perfect game, you have to examine how he arrived at that September evening. The 1988 Dodgers were not an offensive juggernaut; they relied heavily on gritty execution, timely hitting by Kirk Gibson, and a lockdown pitching staff managed by Tommy Lasorda.
Hershiser was the undisputed anchor of that rotation. Earlier in the season, he had embarked on an incredible streak of zeroes that captivated the sports world.
- The Scoreless Streak: Hershiser threw 59 consecutive scoreless innings, eclipsing Don Drysdale's 1968 record of 58 innings.
- Workload: He pitched 267 innings during the 1988 regular season, completing 15 games and shutting out opponents eight times.
- Cy Young Dominance: His stellar campaign earned him a unanimous National League Cy Young Award, followed closely by World Series MVP honors a month later.
By late September, opposing hitters knew what was coming, but knowing didn't make Hershiser's sinker and curveball any easier to hit. His mechanics were locked in, and his stamina was at its peak.
Breakdown of the Nine Innings
A perfect game is never purely the work of a pitcher; it requires a delicate mix of strikeouts, soft contact, and exceptional defensive plays. Hershiser's masterpiece against the Expos featured all three elements across nine tense innings.
Early Innings and Establishing Control
The tone was set immediately in the first inning when Hershiser faced Montreal leadoff hitter Tim Raines, one of the most dangerous base stealers and contact hitters in the league. Hershiser worked the count and induced a swinging strikeout.
In the early frames, the Dodgers' offense provided slim support, plating two runs to give Hershiser a lead to protect. With a narrow 2-0 margin, every pitch carried heightened consequences. Hershiser relied heavily on his sinking fastball to jam right-handed batters and kept his signature sweeping curveball low in the zone to neutralize lefties like Tim Wallach.
Navigating the Middle Frames
As the game moved into the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, the atmosphere inside Olympic Stadium shifted. Montreal fans, realizing they were witnessing history against their home team, transitioned from boisterous hostility to a nervous, quiet tension.
Hershiser maintained his pre-pitch routine meticulously between innings. He didn't look at out-of-town scoreboards, nor did he talk about the mounting zeros in the dugout. He focused strictly on catcher Mike Scioscia's target.
- Defensive Support: In the fifth inning, a sharp grounder sliced toward the hole on the left side. Shortstop Alfredo Griffin ranged far to his right, gloved the ball cleanly, and fired a bullet to first base to keep the bid alive.
- Managing Pitch Count: Unlike modern pitchers who are pulled after 100 pitches, Hershiser was allowed to work deep into counts because of his elite efficiency and conditioning.
The Ninth Inning Tense Finale
Entering the top of the ninth inning, the tension was palpable. Three outs stood between Hershiser and baseball immortality.
The first batter of the inning flew out routine to the outfield. The second out came via a ground ball. With two outs away, pinch-hitter Mike Sharperson stepped to the plate representing Montreal's final gasp. Hershiser fired a low pitch that Sharperson grounded harmlessly toward the infield, resulting in an easy final out.
The Dodgers rushed the mound, mobbing their ace in a celebration that underscored the sheer exhaustion and elation of a grueling baseball summer. You can read more about historical milestones via the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Strategic Brilliance Behind the Pitching Arsenal
Hershiser's success on September 28 wasn't an accident of luck; it was the product of a sophisticated approach to pitching strategy. Hitters frequently noted that Hershiser changed speeds effectively while keeping his arm slot identical on fastballs and breaking balls.
+------------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+
| Pitch Type | Primary Purpose | Target Location |
+------------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+
| Sinking Fastball | Jam hitters, induce outs | In on hands, bottom of zone|
| Curveball | Change eye level, whiff | Low and away |
| Changeup | Keep hitters off balance | Away, below the knees |
+------------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+
By tunneling his pitches—making the fastball and curveball look identical out of his hand for the first thirty feet of flight—he created hesitation in the batter's box. When a hitter has to decide whether a pitch is a fastball heading for the fists or a breaking ball dropping out of the zone in a split second, soft contact is the usual result.
Common Misconceptions About 1988 Baseball
Modern fans often look back at historical eras through a distorted lens, assuming pitching was easier or hitters were less sophisticated. Examining the reality of 1988 dispels several myths:
- Myth: Pitchers threw complete games routinely, so Hershiser's feat wasn't as rare relative to his era.
- Reality: While complete games were more common in the 1980s than they are today, perfect games remained exceptionally rare. Out of tens of thousands of MLB games played over a century, only 24 official perfect games have ever been recorded. Hershiser was just the 13th man to achieve it.
- Myth: The Expos lineup was weak.
- Reality: Montreal featured formidable professional hitters like Tim Raines, Andres Galarraga, and Tim Wallach, making the flawless execution all the more impressive.
Lasting Legacy and Impact on the Dodgers
The ripple effects of Hershiser's perfect game extended far beyond a single box score. It galvanized a Dodgers team that went on to defeat the powerhouse New York Mets in the National League Championship Series and subsequently upset the Oakland Athletics in the 1988 World Series.
Tommy Lasorda often called Hershiser the ultimate competitor, noting that his preparation matched his physical talent. For more details on the franchise's history, check out the official Los Angeles Dodgers Website.
Today, baseball analytics and pitching development have changed drastically, with teams prioritizing velocity and high spin rates over complete games. Yet, the mental endurance required to navigate 27 professional hitters without a single base runner remains the gold standard of pitching excellence. Hershiser's night in Montreal stands as a permanent reminder of what happens when preparation, talent, and focus collide on the diamond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pitches did Orel Hershiser throw in his perfect game?
Hershiser threw 117 pitches during the complete-game masterpiece, efficiently utilizing his sinking fastball to induce early-count outs and keep his pitch count manageable through nine innings.
Did Hershiser win the Cy Young Award in 1988?
Yes. Following his historic regular season—which included a 23-3 record, a 1.26 ERA, the consecutive scoreless innings record, and the perfect game—Hershiser won the National League Cy Young Award unanimously.
Was this the only postseason or late-season milestone Hershiser achieved that year?
No. Just days before the perfect game, Hershiser broke Don Drysdale's long-standing record by tossing his 59th consecutive scoreless inning on September 28, cementing a legendary month of September.
Who caught Orel Hershiser's perfect game?
Veteran catcher Mike Scioscia was behind the plate for the Dodgers, expertly calling the game and managing Hershiser's pitching repertoire throughout the historic nine innings.
