num_pages: 265
description: The rich poignant tales of major league baseballs most hard-luck fraternitythe pitchers of its Almost-Perfect GamesFrom 1908 to 2015 there have been thirteen pitchers who have begun Major League Baseball games by retiring the first twenty-six opposing batters but then one out from completing a perfect game somehow faltering (or having perfection stolen from them). Three other pitchers did successfully retire twenty-seven batters in a row but are still not credited with perfect games. While stories of pitching the perfect game have been told and retold Almost Perfect looks at how baseball at its core is about heartbreak and these sixteen men are closer to what baseball really is and why we remain invested in the sport. Author Joe Cox visits this notion through a century of baseball and through these sixteen pitchersrecounting their games in thrilling fashion telling the personal stories of the fascinating (and very human) baseball figures involved and exploring the historical American and baseball backdrops of each flawed gem.From George Hooks Wiltse's nearly perfect game in 1908 to Hard Luck Harvey Haddixs 12-inning 36-consecutive-outs performance on May 26 1959 (the most astounding single-game pitching performance in baseball history) to Max Scherzers near miss in 2015 Joe Coxs book captures the action the humanity and the history of the national pastimes greatest almosts.
language: English
title: Almost Perfect: The Heartbreaking Pursuit of Pitching's Holy Grail
publisher: Lyons Press