Sports Trivia Weekly: 42-Year-Old Pitcher Throws Perfect Game for Rangers

James Okafor | GlobalBeat

Texas Rangers veteran hurled MLB’s first perfect game in 11 years against Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Dallas native David Price struck out 11 batters across 94 pitches to secure the 6-0 victory at Globe Life Field.

The achievement marks baseball’s 24th perfect game and first since Felix Hernandez accomplished the feat for Seattle in 2012. Price, who turns 43 next month, considered retiring last winter before opting for his 19th major league season.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy called it “surreal” watching his veteran’s cutter dance through Houston’s lineup. “I’ve seen two perfect games in person. This one topped them all,” Bochy told reporters post-game.

Houston’s Jose Altuve, the 2022 American League batting champion, grounded weakly to third for the final out. Price dropped to his knees as catcher Sam Huff sprinted to the mound in celebration.

The Astros entered the contest leading the AL West with a 15-6 record. Their loss drops them to 15-7 while Texas improves to 12-10, moving within 3 games of the division leaders.

Major League Baseball confirmed this represents the first perfect game thrown against a defending World Series champion since 1970. The last instance occurred when Cleveland blanked Baltimore 4-0.

Price needed just 94 pitches, the fewest in any perfect game since David Cone’s 88-pitch masterpiece for New York in 1999. The left-hander threw first-pitch strikes to 24 of 27 batters faced.

His velocity surprised teammates. “He topped out at 96. That’s harder than he threw in spring training,” Huff told The Associated Press. “The old man found something extra tonight.”

Price’s career looked finished in 2025 when Houston released him following a 7.42 ERA across 14 starts. Texas signed him to a minor-league contract in February, adding him to their roster April 1.

Background

Only 23 perfect games existed before Tuesday’s contest, making this achievement rarer than hitting for the cycle or pitching an immaculate inning. The first documented perfect game occurred in 1880 when Lee Richmond blanked Worcester for Cleveland.

The modern baseball era has seen perfect games increase in frequency, with 13 occurring since 1980 compared to just 11 in the previous century. Randy Johnson holds the record as oldest pitcher to throw one, accomplishing the feat at 40 years, 251 days in 2004.

What’s Next

Price’s next scheduled start falls Monday against division-rival Oakland, where he’ll face the team that originally drafted him in 2007. The Athletics ballpark in Sacramento features baseball’s most pitcher-friendly dimensions.

The victory positions Texas for a potential playoff berth in the expanded 16-team format. Six divisional games await the Rangers over the next nine days, offering multiple opportunities to close the gap with Houston.

This perfect game serves as baseball’s defining early-season moment, combining comeback narratives with historical rarity. Price joins an exclusive club while keeping Texas relevant in a competitive AL West race.