A perfect(?) season

By all accounts, the 1981 season was one to forget for the Toronto Blue Jays, who finished with an overall record of 37-69 (.349) in the 106-game strike-shortened campaign. It was only fitting then, that the 'highlight' of the season featured Toronto playing the victim during the 12th perfect game in major-league history.

The infamous achievement happened on May 15, and came courtesy of Indians pitcher Len Barker, who remains the only opposing hurler to toss a perfect game in Blue Jay history. Interestingly, because of cold and wet conditions, Barker's feat was witnessed by just 7,290 fans at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium that night.

The right-hander needed just 103 pitches -- 74 strikes and 29 balls -- to do away with the Blue Jays in a game that lasted two hours and nine minutes. Barker struck out 11 batters on the evening, including Al Woods (who pinch-hit for Danny Ainge) for the second out in the ninth. With 26 down and one to go, Toronto manager Bobby Mattick opted to pinch-hit Ernie Whitt in place of catcher -- and future manager -- Buck Martinez. Whitt, the Jays' current bench coach, lifted a fly ball to center-field, which was caught by Rick Manning to officially put Barker's name in the record books.

At least somebody was perfect that year.

Check out Barker's performance (courtesy of MLB Advanced Media) ...