Office Hours | The Perfect Game Club

Celebrating the Players who Pitched Perfect

A no-hitter is a rare feat, but a perfect game is a masterpiece. Twenty-seven batters up, twenty-seven batters down — no walks, no hits, no errors. Only a select few have ever accomplished it, making the achievement one of baseball’s most exclusive honors. In fact, the feat has only been accomplished 24 times in MLB history.

Fortunately for collectors, Topps has captured many of these perfect pitchers on some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever printed. Let’s take a look at some of the best Topps baseball cards featuring members of the Perfect Game Club.

Don Larsen – 1956 World Series Perfect Game

The most legendary perfect performance was delivered by Don Larsen, the man who delivered the only perfect game in World Series history. On October 8, 1956, Larsen mowed down the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5, a feat made even more incredible considering the lineup he faced, which included Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, and Pee Wee Reese.

Strictly speaking, Larsen’s rookie card is the 1954 Bowman #101. Topps’ 1956 #332 card of Larsen predates his perfect game but remains his most celebrated. Later, Topps would honor his historic performance in retrospective sets, but for collectors looking for the true vintage baseball card appeal, his ’56 card — part of one of the most beautiful Topps sets ever designed — is the one to own.

Sandy Koufax – The 1965 Masterpiece

On September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax delivered one of the most convincing perfect games ever thrown, shutting down the Chicago Cubs while striking out 14, carrying the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory. Vin Scully’s legendary call (“On the mound with the pressure of a high-wire artist…”) only added to the mystique of Koufax’s night.

Every Koufax card is solid gold, with his 1955 Topps rookie card #123 undoubtedly chief among them. But the 1966 Topps #100 is one of the most significant, released right after his perfect game season. Featuring a close-up portrait of an accomplished Koufax at the zenith of his career, this card has become a prized possession for collectors of baseball card classics.

Catfish Hunter – 1968’s Unhittable Performance

Jim “Catfish” Hunter wasn’t just a Hall of Famer. On May 8, 1968, he was a perfect pitcher. Hunter silenced the Minnesota Twins while also helping himself at the plate, collecting three hits and driving in three runs. His performance remains one of the most perfect games in baseball history.

The 1965 Topps #526 Hunter rookie card is the key to his collection, but the 1969 Topps #235 also holds value, showcasing him in his Oakland A’s prime. Both are essential pickups for fans of the mustachioed ace who perfected perfection.

Jim Bunning – Father’s Day Perfection

Jim Bunning was a dominant pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, but his most iconic moment came on June 21, 1964, when he threw a perfect game for the Phillies against the New York Mets. Not only was it the first perfect game in the National League since 1880, but it also happened on Father’s Day, making it a particularly memorable moment in baseball history.

It’s not always easy to find Bunning’s 1957 Topps #358 card perfectly centered, but it’s a beautiful rookie edition. Bunning’s 1964 Topps #265 card is a great piece of memorabilia from the very season he achieved perfection.

Randy Johnson – The Big Unit’s Perfection

At age 40, most pitchers are thinking about retirement, but Randy Johnson was still making history. On May 18, 2004, the Big Unit overpowered the Atlanta Braves, becoming the oldest pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. His dominance — 13 strikeouts and a fastball still touching the high 90s — made this one of the most impressive perfect games in MLB history.

Collectors seeking a card that commemorates Johnson’s Hall of Fame career should look at the 1989 Topps Traded #57T, his first appearance in a Topps set. For those specifically seeking a card reflecting his perfect game era, the 2004 Topps #450 (in a Diamondbacks uniform) is a worthy option and a must-have for Topps collectors.

David Wells – A Perfect Yankee Moment

On May 17, 1998, David Wells delivered perfection for the New York Yankees, blanking the Minnesota Twins in front of a roaring Yankee Stadium crowd. A longtime admirer of Babe Ruth, Wells claimed he was pitching on little sleep, making his dominant performance the stuff of legends.

Wells’ 1988 Topps Traded rookie card #128T captures him in a Blue Jays uniform, but keep an eye out for the 2001 Topps Golden Moments #789, a card specifically dedicated to honoring Wells’ perfect game. His larger-than-life personality and postseason heroics have made his cards consistently popular among fans and Topps collectors.

Roy Halladay – A Double Dose of Perfection

Roy Halladay cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of his era with not just a perfect game, but also a postseason no-hitter in the same year. On May 29, 2010, Halladay mowed down the Florida Marlins in perfection, joining baseball’s most exclusive club. Later that year, in his first-ever playoff appearance, he no-hit the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS, making him one of only two pitchers (alongside Don Larsen) to throw a postseason no-hitter.

Collectors looking to commemorate Halladay’s dominance should seek out his impressive 1997 Bowman’s Best rookie card #134. Additionally, his 2010 Topps Update #US-30 card celebrates his perfect season with the Phillies, making it a must-have for baseball memorabilia collectors.

Topps NOW® and Modern Perfection

In today’s era, Topps NOW has revolutionized how collectors can capture history in real time. Whenever a pitcher throws a perfect game, Topps NOW releases limited-edition baseball cards within 24 hours, offering fans an immediate way to commemorate the moment.

Recent examples include Domingo Germán’s perfect game in 2023, which was swiftly honored with a Topps NOW baseball card #506 featuring a game photo and highlights. These on-demand Topps collectibles ensure that perfection is never forgotten.

The Legacy of Perfection in Card Collecting

A perfect game is more than just a great performance. It’s an immortal achievement — a feat that links generations of MLB’s greatest pitchers. 

From Larsen’s World Series heroics to Halladay’s modern dominance, the Perfect Game Club remains one of baseball’s most elite fraternities. With some deliberation and strategic collecting, hobbyists might put together a unique and valuable showpiece set focusing on perfect pitchers.

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