Antedating of "Perfect Game"

Tue May 25 00:47:09 UTC 2010

Well, it implies that the game *would have been* a perfect game, if not
for the walk, hence that unqualified perfect game couldn't have been
used for a no-hitter.

On 5/24/10 8:04 PM, Shapiro, Fred wrote:
> Sam,
>
> Well, if you had no hits, no errors, a walk or two, and no other men reaching base, that would be a perfect game in its current meaning "with the exception of a walk or so."  I wonder, however, if there was an earlier, general meaning of "perfect game" meaning a really well-pitched game, and it was applied to a no-hit, no-walk, no-error, etc. game, would this be a citation for the current meaning, or merely a citation for an earlier sense that coincidentally described a game also meeting the current fixed, technical meaning?
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society [ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Sam Clements [SClements at NEO.RR.COM]
> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 7:56 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Antedating of "Perfect Game"
>
> 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
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

--
 =======================================================================
Alice Faber                                       faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                            tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
New Haven, CT 06511 USA                               fax (203) 865-8963

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org