Antedating of "Perfect Game"

[Shapiro, Fred]

Here's a slightly earlier citation for _perfect game_ in its current meaning (as a synonym for _no-hitter_, it is older than 1907):

1907 _Atlanta Constitution_ 5 June 9 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)  (heading) Rube Pitched a Perfect Game With the Exception of a Walk or so, and for Seven Innings Only Twenty-one Men Faced Him.


Fred Shapiro




________________________________________
From: American Dialect Society [ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Mandel [thnidu at GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 3:34 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: perfect game (baseball)

In explaining a recent baseball quotation to my sister, I had occasion
to seek definitions of "perfect game". OED's definition is fine

> chiefly N. Amer. (a) Baseball a no-hitter in which the pitcher or pitchers of one team allow no hits or walks and there are no errors, such that none of the opposing team's players get on base;

but the first citation

> 1907 Chicago Sunday Tribune 23 July II.�  4/5 What is a *perfect game?..A perfectly pitched game would be where no one reached first base.

doesn't jibe with ProQuest search:

> Databases selected:�  ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987)
> No documents found for: (game) AND (perfect) AND PDN(7/23/1907)

The citation is actually from *June* 23 [1]:

>ANSWERS TO INQUISITIVE FANS.
>T P. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922). Chicago, Ill.: Jun 23, 1907. p. A4 (1 page)

Fourth item in the column:

> Ottumwa, Ia. -- [...] (4) What is a perfect game?� � � �  [signed] "RED."
>
> �  [...]�  (4) A perfect fielding game is an errorless one, a perfect batting game would be where every batter made a clean hit, every time at bat; a perfectly pitched game would be where no one reached first base.

Nevertheless, the expert, "T.P.", evidently doesn't consider "perfect
game" to be a term of the art of baseball.

We get closer in October [2], but still no cigar.

> Most Perfect Game of Series. [section head in story]
> ... no faster or more nearly perfect game has been seen during the series.

[1] T P.�  (1907,� June� 23). ANSWERS TO INQUISITIVE FANS.� Chicago Daily
Tribune (1872-1922),A4.�  Retrieved May 24, 2010, from ProQuest
Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987). (Document ID:
403483001).
Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=403483001&sid=9&Fmt=1&clientId=3748&RQT=309&VName=HNP

[2] I E (SY) SANBORN.�  (1907,� October� 13). WORLD'S PENNANT STAYS IN
CHICAGO� :Cubs Finish Series by Inflicting Humiliating Shutout on the
Detroit Tigers. HONOR MORDECAI BROWN. Three Fingered One Gets Chance
at Last and Cinches Championship for the West Side by 2 to 0. TOTAL
FOR SERIES. WHAT THE CUBS GET. WHAT THE TIGERS GET. Cubs' Feat Without
Precedent. Honor to the Three Fingered One. Chance Looks On at Combat.
Those Tigers Died Hard. Champions to "Exhibit" Today. Victory Gives
Cubs $32,960. Most Perfect Game of Series. Tigers Make Vicious Fight.
Cobb Buried in Disgrace..� Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922),1.
Retrieved May 24, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago
Tribune (1849 - 1987). (Document ID:� 403637311).
Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=403637311&sid=9&Fmt=2&clientId=3748&RQT=309&VName=HNP

m a m

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