Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle tossed a July 23 perfect game 11 years ago today, but it was not an Opening Day no-hitter.
On Thursday, July 23, 2009 at U.S. Cellular Field, Buehrle retired all 27 Tampa Bay Rays he faced for a 5-0 win of perfection.
Today is Opening Day of the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, and any no-no tossed by the Yankees, Nationals, Dodgers or Giants would equal Bob Feller’s feat of 1940. The rest of its league gets its shot on Friday.
Buehrle’s 2009 perfecto was his second no-hitter. His first was on April 18, 2007, a game in which he no-hit the Texas Rangers and also faced the minimum 27 batters. (Buehrle had picked off Sammy Sosa from first after the designated hitter drew a fifth inning walk.)
