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2mo

Cole Hamels’ No-Hitter: The End of an Era

On July 25th, 2015, Cole Hamels took the mound in Wrigley Field for the final time as a Philadelphia Phillie. It had been four years since the Phillies could be considered a contender. The team sold off aging parts of their core for what proved to be pennies on the dollar, including Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Hunter Pence. Players like Hamels, second baseman Chase Utley, and catcher Carlos Ruiz had their days numbered. The team was finally ready to rebuild, hoping that the prospects they’d acquire could pan out. But just because trade discussions were underway, that didn’t stop the longtime Phillie from stepping on the mound. So, as rumors swirled to where the 2008 World Series MVP and three-time All-Star would depart to, he faced an up-and-coming Cubs squad featuring the likes of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Jorge Soler. Hamels threw 129 pitches in his no-no, striking out 13 batters and walking center fielder Dexter Fowler twice. Many remember the no-hitter for it’s final out, when center fielder Odubel Herrera nearly lost the ball, but a diving grab averted disaster and secured history with a 5-0 win. Hamels got all the run support he needed when Ryan Howard sent hit a 3-run missile to center field for his 17th of the year. Howard ended 2015 with just 23 home runs, tied for the fewest for him in any season where he played in over 100 games. After using his no-trade clause to avoid a move to the Houston Astros, the Phillies dealt their longtime ace to the Texas Rangers just six days after his no-hitter. In return, the Phillies received catching prospect Jorge Alfaro, outfielding prospect Nick Williams, and young pitchers Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff and Jake Thompson, as well as former All-Star starter Matt Harrison. Two current Phillies, Aaron Nola and Kyle Schwarber, sat in opposing dugouts for Hamels’ no hitter.

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Perfect on Father's Day

Father's Day, June 21, 1964. Shea Stadium, first game of a doubleheader. Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning — a father of seven — took the mound against the Mets and proceeded to retire every single batter he faced. Twenty-seven up. Twenty-seven down. 90 pitches. Ten strikeouts, six of them in the final three innings, when most pitchers tighten up - Bunning went the other way and stepped on the gas. By the late innings he wasn't tiptoeing around the no-no superstition at all; he was reportedly telling teammates in the dugout exactly what was on the line. It was the first perfect game in modern National League history and the first regular-season perfecto since Charlie Robertson in 1922 — a 42-year gap, with only Don Larsen's 1956 World Series gem in between. Bunning's wife Mary and daughter Barbara were in the Shea stands to watch dad do the impossible. He'd later throw a no-hitter in the American League too, becoming one of the few pitchers to no-hit both leagues. Then he swapped the rubber for a different kind of pressure - Hall of Famer and a two-term U.S. Senator from Kentucky. Of every perfect game ever thrown, exactly one was tossed on Father's Day by an actual father of seven. Happy Father's Day RateGame!

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Halladay is Perfect: Today in Sports History

On May 29th, 2010, Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history. Also the second perfect game in Philadelphia Phillies history, Halladay threw 115 pitches against the Florida Marlins, striking out 11 batters. The Phillies won 1-0 with the only run coming in the top of the third. Chase Utley hit a line drive that bounced off the glove of Florida center fielder Cameron Maybin, allowing shortstop Wilson Valdez to score from first. It was an unearned run for Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson. With his perfect game, Halladay and Dallas Braden made history as the first modern era pitchers to throw perfect games in the same month. It was also the first time multiple perfect games happened in the same season. The twenty days between Braden's perfect game and Halladay's is the shortest span between two perfect games since 1880.

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Tommy Greene Tosses a No-Hitter: Today in Sports History

On May 23rd, 1991, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene threw the franchise’s eighth no-hitter against the Montreal Expos. Greene was a regular in the bullpen when starting pitcher Danny Cox pulled a groin muscle and had to miss his May 23rd start. The Phillies chose Greene to take his second start of the season and only the 15th of his career. When reporters asked him how long he thought he could go in the game, Greene said “I don’t know, I’ll just go as hard as I can as long as I can. I don’t think they’ll let me throw too many pitches… unless I’m throwing a no-hitter or something.” 130 pitches later, Greene became the first visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Montreal’s 22-year history. He struck out ten batters, and also allowed seven walks. The Phillies were fielding a squad mixed with regulars and bench players for this getaway game. This included backstop Darrin Fletcher, only making his 17th start. The Expos trotted out their starters, including Marquis Grissom, Andres Galarraga, Larry Walker and Delino DeShields. Greene’s feat earned him a regular spot in the Phillies’ rotation for the rest of the year. He finished 1991 with a 13-7 record, 3.38 ERA, and a 108 ERA+. He’d go on to be a key contributor to Philadelphia’s 1993 run to the World Series, going 16-4 with a 3.42 ERA and finishing 6th in Cy Young voting.