How a 26-year-old right-hander mowed down Ted Williams & Co. for a franchise-record Game Score of 97—and why no Tiger has topped it since.
Opening pitch
Every franchise has a “you-had-to-be-there” masterpiece. For the Detroit Tigers, it’s July 20, 1958: Game 1 of a Fenway double-header, Jim Bunning vs. the Boston Red Sox. Twelve strikeouts, zero hits, and a Game Score of 97.
Why Bunning’s gem stands alone
- Complete dominance: Only seven Red Sox balls escaped the infield, and none found grass.
- Star power subdued: Future MVP Jackie Jensen and Ted Williams combined to go 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Pitch efficiency: 118 pitches (by beat-writer estimate) with his slider as the out-pitch.
- He even outhit Boston: Bunning singled in the third—so the Tigers won the box-score hit column.
Best Detroit Tigers Pitching Performance — key numbers
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | July 20, 1958 |
| Venue | Fenway Park |
| Line | 9 IP • 0 H • 0 R • 12 K • 2 BB • 1 HBP |
| Game Score | 97 |
| Final | Tigers 3, Red Sox 0 |
Other gems that nudged the throne
| Rank | Game | GS | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Justin Verlander 6/12/07 vs Brewers | 95 | First Comerica no-no; heater touched 101 mph. MLB.com |
| 3 | Armando Galarraga 6/2/10 vs CLE* | 88* | The “imperfect” perfect game—missed by one blown call. MLB.com |
| 4 | Justin Verlander 5/7/11 at Blue Jays | 93 | One walk shy of perfection. MLB.com |
| 5 | Aníbal Sánchez 4/26/13 vs Braves | 101 (8 IP) | Franchise-record 17 K, but fell two outs shy of a CG. Bless You Boys |
*Galarraga’s official Game Score is 88, but in Tiger lore it’s untouchable.
The Bottom Line
Until a Detroit pitcher spins a perfect game—or tops Bunning’s 97 over nine innings—the 1958 Fenway no-no remains the gold standard for best Detroit Tigers pitching performance. It’s living proof that Motor City greatness was carving up hitters long before Verlander’s triple-digit heaters.
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