Antedating of "Perfect Game"

[Sam Clements]

How is" ...a perfect game with the exception of a walk or so..." a _perfect
game_ in its current meaning?  I assume by "current": you mean the last 50+
years?

Sam Clements
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 19:34
Subject: Antedating of "Perfect Game"


> 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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