John Montgomery Ward, who threw the majors’ second perfect game in 1880, was born 158 years ago today.
Ward threw his perfecto for the National League’s Providence Grays on June 17, 1880, shutting out the Buffalo Bisons 5-0 at the Messer Street Grounds in Providence.
Beating him to the punch five days earlier was Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs, who threw a June 12 perfect game against the Cleveland Blues at Worcester Driving Park Grounds.
Ward’s was the second of 23 perfect games, with the most recent being thrown by Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. View them here.
