Books and articles about Len Barker

SHOPPING » Look for Len Barker books at BN.com » Look for Len Barker books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Submissions » The Top 100 Greatest Indians » I Batted .333 Against Large Lenny Barker (But Missed His Perfect Game) by Roger Gordon Around the Web » Len Barker from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Flame-throwing Barker three-hit the White Sox in his first ML start with the Rangers, but his wildness caused his trade to Cleveland in 1979. There he learned to control his 96-mph fastball and posted a 19-12 mark in 1980 while leading the AL in strikeouts. He pitched a 3-0 perfect game against Toronto (May 15, 1981) and started that year's All-Star game. He led in strikeouts again in 1981 and was 15-11 in 1982. The Braves gave up Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby and Rick Behenna to get him in late 1983, but he never managed a winning record for Atlanta. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 15, 1981: The Indians Len Barker pitches the 9th perfect game in 20th century ML history 3–0 over the Blue Jays before just 7,290 fans on a rainy night in Cleveland. Last year's American League strikeout leader, Barker fans 11. » August 24, 1983: Cubs Chuck Rainey is one out away from a no-hitter when the Reds Eddie Milner singles to center on the first pitch. Rainey settles for a 3–0 one-hitter, his first complete game of the season. For Milner, this is the 3rd of five instances that he will collect his team's only hit in a game, a ML mark he'll share with Cesar Tovar. The other solos are Dickie Noles and Jerry Reuss (1982), Len Barker & Donnie Moore (1984) and Alejandro Pena (1986). » August 28, 1983: The Indians trade pitcher Len Barker to the Braves for Rick Behenna, cash, and two players to be named later. The two turn out to be OF Brett Butler and 3B Brook Jacoby. » September 30, 1984: On the final day of the regular season, California's Mike Witt fans 10 and needs just 97 pitches to complete a perfect game 1–0 over Texas. Witt's gem is the first 9-inning perfect game in Angels history and the first in the major leagues since Len Barker's in 1981. » April 1, 1986: In a purge of its pitching staff, Atlanta releases veterans Pascual Perez, Len Barker, Terry Forster, and Rick Camp. » July 28, 1991: Dennis Martinez of the Expos tosses the 13th (excluding Haddix and Shore) perfect game in major league history, setting down all 27 Dodgers to face him in a 2-0 win. Martinez strikes out five in the contest. Catcher Ron Hassey becomes the 1st receiver to catch two perfectos, having been behind the plate for Len Barker's masterpiece in 1981. Dodger IF Alfredo Griffin goes 0-for-3 against Martinez, to go along with his 0-for-3 in Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988, and 0-for-2 in Barker's perfecto in 1981.