Antedating of "Perfect Game"

Tue May 25 01:32:27 UTC 2010

Since it apparently WAS a no-hitter, and the word existed by 1907, I
wonder why didn't they use the word.

DanG

On 5/24/2010 8:47 PM, Alice Faber wrote:
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> Poster:       Alice Faber<faber at HASKINS.YALE.EDU>
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> Subject:      Re: Antedating of "Perfect Game"
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>
> 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.ï¿½  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:ï¿½  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?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½  [signed] "RED."
>>>>
>>>> ï¿½  [...]ï¿½  (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.ï¿½  (1907,ï¿½ Juneï¿½ 23). ANSWERS TO INQUISITIVE FANS.ï¿½ Chicago Daily
>>> Tribune (1872-1922),A4.ï¿½  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.ï¿½  (1907,ï¿½ Octoberï¿½ 13). WORLD'S PENNANT STAYS IN
>>> CHICAGOï¿½ :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..ï¿½ Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922),1.
>>> Retrieved May 24, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago
>>> Tribune (1849 - 1987). (Document ID:ï¿½ 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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> --
> ========================================================================
> Alice Faber                                       faber at haskins.yale.edu
> Haskins Laboratories                            tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
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