Jim Bunning was born on Friday, October 23, 1931, in Southgate, Kentucky. Bunning was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 20, 1955, with the Detroit Tigers. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Jim Bunning baseball stats page.
"For most pitchers like me, who aren't overpowering supermen with extraordinary stuff like Sandy Koufax or Nolan Ryan, a no-hitter is a freaky thing." - Bunning, Jim. No-Hitters: The 225 Games, 1893-1999. Westcott, Rich. Author. 2000. Page 1.
Jim Bunning![]() Jim Bunning Autograph on a 1963 Topps Baseball Card (#365 | Checklist) |
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Jim BunningJim Bunning Pitching Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
| 1955 | 24 | Tigers | 15 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 6.35 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51.0 | 241 | 59 | 36 | 38 | 8 | 32 | 2 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - |
| 1956 | 25 | Tigers | 15 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .833 | 3.71 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53.1 | 245 | 55 | 22 | 24 | 6 | 28 | 4 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1957 | 26 | Tigers | 45 | 30 | 4 | 20 | 8 | .714 | 2.69 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 267.1 | 1,081 | 214 | 80 | 91 | 33 | 72 | 5 | 182 | 4 | 11 | 1 | - |
| 1958 | 27 | Tigers | 35 | 34 | 0 | 14 | 12 | .538 | 3.52 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 219.2 | 923 | 188 | 86 | 96 | 28 | 79 | 4 | 177 | 5 | 10 | 3 | - |
| 1959 | 28 | Tigers | 40 | 35 | 4 | 17 | 13 | .567 | 3.89 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 249.2 | 1,037 | 220 | 108 | 111 | 37 | 75 | 0 | 201 | 1 | 11 | 1 | - |
| 1960 | 29 | Tigers | 36 | 34 | 1 | 11 | 14 | .440 | 2.79 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 252.0 | 1,024 | 217 | 78 | 92 | 20 | 64 | 7 | 201 | 2 | 11 | 0 | - |
| 1961 | 30 | Tigers | 38 | 37 | 1 | 17 | 11 | .607 | 3.19 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 268.0 | 1,110 | 232 | 95 | 113 | 25 | 71 | 3 | 194 | 2 | 9 | 0 | - |
| 1962 | 31 | Tigers | 41 | 35 | 6 | 19 | 10 | .655 | 3.59 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 258.0 | 1,103 | 262 | 103 | 112 | 28 | 74 | 3 | 184 | 4 | 13 | 0 | - |
| 1963 | 32 | Tigers | 39 | 35 | 3 | 12 | 13 | .480 | 3.88 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 248.1 | 1,051 | 245 | 107 | 119 | 38 | 69 | 3 | 196 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - |
| 1964 | 33 | Phillies | 41 | 39 | 2 | 19 | 8 | .704 | 2.63 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 284.1 | 1,145 | 248 | 83 | 99 | 23 | 46 | 3 | 219 | 2 | 14 | 0 | - |
| 1965 | 34 | Phillies | 39 | 39 | 0 | 19 | 9 | .679 | 2.60 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 291.0 | 1,191 | 253 | 84 | 92 | 23 | 62 | 10 | 268 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | 35 | Phillies | 43 | 41 | 2 | 19 | 14 | .576 | 2.41 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 314.0 | 1,254 | 260 | 84 | 91 | 26 | 55 | 8 | 252 | 5 | 19 | 1 | - |
| 1967 | 36 | Phillies | 40 | 40 | 0 | 17 | 15 | .531 | 2.29 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 302.1 | 1,216 | 241 | 77 | 94 | 18 | 73 | 20 | 253 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 37 | Pirates | 27 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 14 | .222 | 3.88 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 160.0 | 684 | 168 | 69 | 75 | 14 | 48 | 6 | 95 | 3 | 8 | 0 | - |
| 1969 | 38 | Pirates | 25 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 9 | .526 | 3.81 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 156.0 | 654 | 147 | 66 | 74 | 10 | 49 | 4 | 124 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 38 | Dodgers | 9 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 3.36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56.1 | 238 | 65 | 21 | 23 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | 39 | Phillies | 34 | 33 | 0 | 10 | 15 | .400 | 4.11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 219.0 | 937 | 233 | 100 | 111 | 19 | 56 | 9 | 147 | 1 | 8 | 0 | - |
| 1971 | 40 | Phillies | 29 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 12 | .294 | 5.48 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 110.0 | 484 | 126 | 67 | 72 | 11 | 37 | 7 | 58 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - |
| Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
| 17 Years | 591 | 519 | 39 | 224 | 184 | .549 | 3.27 | 151 | 40 | 16 | 3,760.1 | 15,618 | 3,433 | 1,366 | 1,527 | 372 | 1,000 | 98 | 2,855 | 47 | 160 | 8 | 0 | ||
Jim BunningJim Bunning Hitting Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 1955 | 24 | Tigers | 15 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .200 |
| 1956 | 25 | Tigers | 15 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .444 |
| 1957 | 26 | Tigers | 45 | 94 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .213 | .253 | .287 |
| 1958 | 27 | Tigers | 36 | 75 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .187 | .218 | .213 |
| 1959 | 28 | Tigers | 40 | 89 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .191 | .234 | .247 |
| 1960 | 29 | Tigers | 38 | 81 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .160 | .188 | .173 |
| 1961 | 30 | Tigers | 38 | 100 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .130 | .147 | .140 |
| 1962 | 31 | Tigers | 43 | 95 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .242 | .255 | .316 |
| 1963 | 32 | Tigers | 41 | 84 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .155 | .193 | .190 |
| 1964 | 33 | Phillies | 41 | 99 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .121 | .120 | .141 |
| 1965 | 34 | Phillies | 39 | 103 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .214 | .221 | .252 |
| 1966 | 35 | Phillies | 43 | 106 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .179 | .200 | .208 |
| 1967 | 36 | Phillies | 40 | 104 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .163 | .171 | .250 |
| 1968 | 37 | Pirates | 27 | 51 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .098 | .098 | .118 |
| 1969 | 38 | Pirates | 25 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .043 | .100 | .043 |
| 1969 | 38 | Dodgers | 9 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .111 | .111 | .111 |
| 1970 | 39 | Phillies | 35 | 71 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .127 | .149 | .127 |
| 1971 | 40 | Phillies | 31 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .120 | .148 | .240 |
| Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
| 17 Years | 601 | 1,275 | 82 | 213 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 75 | 34 | 0 | 362 | 85 | 6 | 1 | 36 | .167 | .188 | .206 | ||
Jim BunningJim Bunning Fielding Stats |
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| Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 1955 Tigers | P | 15 | 8 | 153 | 13 | 0.9 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .923 | 2.12 |
| 1956 Tigers | P | 15 | 3 | 160 | 8 | 0.5 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.35 |
| 1957 Tigers | P | 45 | 30 | 802 | 31 | 0.7 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.04 |
| 1958 Tigers | P | 35 | 34 | 659 | 25 | 0.7 | 25 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.02 |
| 1959 Tigers | P | 40 | 35 | 749 | 30 | 0.8 | 27 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .900 | 0.97 |
| 1960 Tigers | P | 36 | 34 | 756 | 42 | 1.2 | 42 | 11 | 31 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.50 |
| 1961 Tigers | P | 38 | 37 | 804 | 53 | 1.4 | 50 | 21 | 29 | 3 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 1.68 |
| 1962 Tigers | P | 41 | 35 | 774 | 30 | 0.7 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.05 |
| 1963 Tigers | P | 39 | 35 | 745 | 44 | 1.1 | 43 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .977 | 1.56 |
| 1964 Phillies | P | 41 | 39 | 853 | 44 | 1.1 | 41 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .932 | 1.30 |
| 1965 Phillies | P | 39 | 39 | 873 | 72 | 1.8 | 69 | 29 | 40 | 3 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .958 | 2.13 |
| 1966 Phillies | P | 43 | 41 | 942 | 50 | 1.2 | 48 | 18 | 30 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .960 | 1.38 |
| 1967 Phillies | P | 40 | 40 | 907 | 50 | 1.3 | 49 | 16 | 33 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .980 | 1.46 |
| 1968 Pirates | P | 27 | 26 | 480 | 25 | 0.9 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .920 | 1.29 |
| 1969 Pirates | P | 25 | 25 | 468 | 14 | 0.6 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .929 | 0.75 |
| 1969 Dodgers | P | 9 | 9 | 169 | 7 | 0.8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.12 |
| 1970 Phillies | P | 34 | 33 | 657 | 41 | 1.2 | 39 | 12 | 27 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .951 | 1.60 |
| 1971 Phillies | P | 29 | 16 | 330 | 22 | 0.8 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 1.72 |
| Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| P Totals | 591 | 519 | 11,281 | 601 | 1.0 | 578 | 206 | 372 | 23 | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .962 | 1.38 | |
| 17 Years | 591 | 519 | 11,281 | 601 | 1.0 | 578 | 206 | 372 | 23 | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .962 | 1.38 | |
Jim BunningJim Bunning Miscellaneous Stats |
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| Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
| Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 1955 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.16 | 6.53 | 5.65 |
| 1956 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.6 | 18.0 | 1.21 | 5.74 | 4.73 |
| 1957 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 94.0 | 3.2 | 23.5 | 2.53 | 6.13 | 2.42 |
| 1958 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.1 | 25.0 | 2.24 | 7.25 | 3.24 |
| 1959 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 89.0 | 3.6 | 12.7 | 2.68 | 7.25 | 2.70 |
| 1960 Tigers | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 2 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.7 | 20.3 | 3.14 | 7.18 | 2.29 |
| 1961 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.3 | 25.0 | 2.73 | 6.51 | 2.38 |
| 1962 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | n/a | 95.0 | 5.0 | 19.0 | 2.49 | 6.42 | 2.58 |
| 1963 Tigers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.6 | 16.8 | 2.84 | 7.10 | 2.50 |
| 1964 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.4 | 12.4 | 4.76 | 6.93 | 1.46 |
| 1965 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 103.0 | 4.1 | 25.8 | 4.32 | 8.29 | 1.92 |
| 1966 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 2.7 | 21.2 | 4.58 | 7.22 | 1.58 |
| 1967 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 52.0 | 3.2 | 8.7 | 3.47 | 7.53 | 2.17 |
| 1968 Pirates | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.0 | 17.0 | 1.98 | 5.34 | 2.70 |
| 1969 Pirates | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.9 | 47.0 | 2.53 | 7.15 | 2.83 |
| 1969 Dodgers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | 3.30 | 5.27 | 1.60 |
| 1970 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.9 | 11.8 | 2.63 | 6.04 | 2.30 |
| 1971 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 25.0 | 2.8 | 12.5 | 1.57 | 4.75 | 3.03 |
| Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 17 Years | 0 | 2 | .000 | 3 | 7 | n/a | 182.1 | 3.5 | 17.0 | 2.86 | 6.83 | 2.39 |
Jim BunningJim Bunning Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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| Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
| 1955 Detroit Tigers | 15 | $5,700.00 | - | - |
| 1956 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $7,000.00 | - | - |
| 1957 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $8,500.00 | Stats | - |
| 1958 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $15,500.00 | - | - |
| 1959 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $20,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1960 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $24,000.00 | - | - |
| 1961 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $28,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1962 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $35,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1963 Detroit Tigers | 14 | $39,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1964 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $39,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1965 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $50,000.00 | - | - |
| 1966 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $50,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1967 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $45,000.00 | - | - |
| 1968 Pittsburgh Pirates | 14 | $45,000.00 | - | - |
| 1969 Pittsburgh Pirates | 14 | $75,000.00 | - | - |
| 1969 Los Angeles Dodgers | 17 | " " | - | - |
| 1970 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $85,000.00 | - | - |
| 1971 Philadelphia Phillies | 14 | $85,000.00 | - | - |
| Jim Bunning Stats by Baseball Almanac | ||||

James Paul David Bunning was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Detroit Tigers (1955-1963), Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1967), Pittsburgh Pirates (1968-1969), Los Angeles Dodgers (1969), and Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1971). Did you know that Jim, his nickname, on August 2, 1959, threw an immaculate inning? With exactly nine pitches thrown, Bunning struck out Sammy White, Jim Mahoney and Ike Delock in the ninth inning to enter the 9 Pitches - 9 Strikes - 3 Outs Club, the fith known instance in American League history.

Jim Bunning Rookie Card | 1957 Topps Baseball Card (#338 | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
Did you know that Jim Bunning started and won a game played on April 10, 1971, which also happened to be the first regular season Major League baseball game ever played in Veterans Stadium?
Did you know that when Jim Bunning hung up his cleats, his 2,855 career strikeouts where the second most in Major League history behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, who finished with 3,508 strikeouts? [Top 1,000]
Jim Bunning threw a no-hitter on July 20, 1958, for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox. On Father's Day, June 21, 1964, Bunning threw a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Mets. Join Baseball Almanac as we take a closer look at both of the absolutely phenomenal pitching performances:
Jim Bunning No Hitter (Box Score: July 20, 1958)
One year earlier, Jim Bunning had posted a sparkling 20-8 record, leading the American League in wins in his first full season in the big leagues. He had struggled early in 1958, but had won five of his last six decisions when he went up against the second place Boston Red Sox on Sunday July 20 at Fenway Park.
Bunning had just a 7-6 record for the fourth place Detroit Tigers as he faced Frank Sullivan before a crowd of 29,529 in the first game of a doubleheader (Boston won the second game, 5-2). The 26-year-old, however, completely baffled the hard-hitting Bosox, stopping them cold with only the fourth no-hitter in Tigers' history.
Mixing a smoking fastball with a wicked slider, Bunning struck out 12 and walked two. Two Red Sox, Lou Berberet and Ted Lepcio, each struck out three times. Bunning whiffed two batters in six different innings. Boston hit only seven balls to the outfield, three of them by Ted Williams.
The hardest hit ball of Bunning came at the outset when Red Sox leadoff batter Gene Stephens slammed a high drive deep to right. Al Kaline backed up and grabbed the blow just a few feet in front of the wall. Bunning then nailed Pete Runnels on a ground out to third and Ted Williams on a fly to right.
With one out in the second, Bunning hit Jackie Jensen with a pitch. One of only three Red Sox to reach base, Jensen moved to second on Dick Gernett's ground out to third, but stayed there as Berberet fanned to end the inning.
In the third, after striking out Billy Consolo and retiring Sullivan on a foul pop to first, Bunning walked Stephens. Lepcio, who had replaced Runnels after he was injured, followed with a strikeout.
The Sox hit three balls to the outfield in the fourth, Williams flying out to center, Frank Malzone to right and Jensen lining out to center. Then with one out, Bunning struck out Berberet and Consolo in the fifth.
Detroit had scored all its runs in the top of the fifth. Gail Harris tripled and scored on Gus Zernial's double. Two outs later, Zernial scored on Red Wilson's single. After Bunning singled, Wilson scored on a single by Harvey Kuenn.
Stephens drew his second walk of the game with one out in the sixth, but Lepcio was called out on strikes and Williams forced the runner at second for the third out.
After retiring the side in order in the seventh, Bunning got Berberet on a called third strike leading off the eighth. Consolo popped out to second and pinch-hitter Billy Klaus struck out.
In the ninth, Bunning caught Gene Stephens looking on a 2-2 pitch for a called third strike. Then he fanned Lepcio on another 2-2 pitch. That left it up to the aging but ever dangerous Williams, who was in the process of winning his second straight batting championship. Bunning got the great slugger to rap a 1-0 pitch high to right, Al Kaline caught it with no trouble.
Bunning had his no-hitter. He went on to post a 14-12 record that season. Eventually, he won 19 games four times and pitched another no-hitter for the Phillies, this one being a perfect game.
Source: Researched and written by author Rich Westcott. Original text from No-Hitters. McFarland Publishing. 15 February 2000. Page 192. Reprinted with written permission from author.
Jim Bunning Perfect Game (Box Score: June 21, 1964)
The father of seven children, Jim Bunning couldn't have picked a better time to hurl the first perfect game in modern National League history. The slender righthander performed the feat on Father's Day.
Bunning (who eventually had nine children) had just joined the Philadelphia Phillies that season. He would win 19 games in each of his first three seasons for the Phils. His no-hitter would be the first one by a Phillies pitcher in more than 58 years.
It was a hot afternoon at Shea Stadium as the future Hall of Famer squared off against the 10th place New York Mets before a crowd of 32,026 in the first game of a doubleheader. The 32-year-old Bunning, who had a 6-2 record for the first place Phillies, faced Tracy Stallard.
It was clear from the start that Bunning had his best stuff, which consisted of a darting slider, a tantalizing curve, a lively fastball and excellent control. Bunning struck out leadoff hitter Jim Hickman in the first inning, and from there, he was off to the races.
Bunning threw a total of just 90 pitches. Only 21 of them were balls. He struck out 10, including Hickman three times. Bunning went to a 3-2 count twice. Only four balls were hit out of the infield and five Mets were retired on grounders.
Only three outs were not routine. Amado Samuel hit a sharp line drive to shortstop Cookie Rojas for the second out in the third. In the sixth, Charlie Smith led off with a long fly to center field that Johnny Briggs caught near the fence.
Bunning was the recipient of a huge defensive play in the fifth when second baseman Tony Taylor cut down Jesse Gonder. With one out, the lefthanded-hitting Gonder drilled a hard grounder toward the hole between first and second. Taylor dove for the ball and gloved it, but the ball popped out as he hit the ground. Taylor then grabbed the ball and threw from his knees to first to nip Gonder by two steps.
By then, Bunning had a 2-0 lead. Dick Allen singled home the Phillies' first run in the first inning. In the second, Gus Triandos doubled home another run.
The Phillies added four more runs in the sixth on a home run by Johnny Callison, a walk, single by Taylor and an RBI single by Triandos and Bunning's two-run double.
In the seventh, Bunning struck out Hickman, retired Ron Hunt on a grounder to third, and fanned Ed Kranepool. He fanned Joe Christopher to open the eighth, got Gonder on a routine grounder to second, and struck out Bob Taylor.
Bunning finished his masterpiece with a strong ninth. He set down Smith on a 2-2 pitch with a popup to Bobby Wine in foul territory. Next he struck out pinch-hitter George Altman on three pitches. Then with the crowd screaming wildly, Bunning got pinch-hitter John Stephenson to swing and miss on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
To complete the memorable day, the Phillies went on to win the second game, too, beating the Mets, 8-2, with 18-year-old Rick Wise getting the first of his 188 major league wins.
That night, Bunning appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Although he finished the season with a 19-8 record, it would be a bittersweet year for Bunning and the Phillies, who lost a chance for the National Legue pennant when they blew a six and one-half game lead with 12 games to play.
Source: Researched and written by author Rich Westcott. Original text from No-Hitters. McFarland Publishing. 15 February 2000. Page 221-222. Reprinted with written permission from author.

Jim Bunning | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1996 (HOF)
Cy Young was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in both the American and National League. The second? Jim Bunning. Since then, Nolan Ryan, Hideo Nomo and Randy Johnson have joined the elite set of pitchers with no-hitters in each league.