Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox named American League Player of the Week

Chicago White Sox right-hander Philip Humber, who tossed the 21st perfect game in Major League history on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners, has been named American League Player of the Week for the period ending April 22nd. The announcement was made earlier this afternoon on MLB Network.

Humber needed just 96 pitches to shut down the Mariners, 4-0, in the first no-hitter in Safeco Field history. In addition, he became the first hurler ever to throw a perfect game against Seattle and is the first in nearly 16 years to no-hit the Mariners, last accomplished by New York Yankees right-hander Dwight Gooden on May 14, 1996. The 29-yearold’s gem was the first perfect game or no-hitter in the Majors this season. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay was the last to pitch a perfect game on May 29, 2010 at Florida and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim right-hander Ervin Santana was the last to throw a no-hitter on July 27, 2011 at Cleveland. The Nacogdoches, Texas native tossed the 18th no-hitter in the 111-year history of the White Sox and was just the third White Sox hurler to do it with perfection, joining former Chicago left-hander Mark Buehrle (7/23/09) and Charlie Robertson (4/30/22). The White Sox are now tied with the Boston Red Sox for second all-time with 18 no-hitters, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers (20), and they are joined by the Yankees as the only teams with three perfect games. In the process of recording his first career complete game and shutout, the Rice University product tied a career-best with nine strikeouts (also on September 28, 2011 vs. Toronto) and was efficient throughout his outing by not allowing a three-ball count until the ninth inning. It was just his second career start of 7.0 innings-or-more in which Humber did not issue a walk. His 96 pitches were the fewest needed in a perfect game since David Cone of the Yankees threw 88 pitches in his July 18, 1999 perfect game against the Montreal Expos. Aside from his Saturday start, the third overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft (by the New York Mets) made one other appearance, allowing one run on six hits, walking three and striking out seven in 5.1 innings for a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on April 16th. In two starts this week, the seven-year veteran went 1-0 with a 0.63 ERA (fifth in the A.L.), walked three and struck out 16 (third in the Majors) in 14.1 innings of work. This is Philip’s first career Player of the Week honor.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli (.440, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 1.080 SLG) and center fielder Josh Hamilton (.462, 3 HR, 11 RBI); Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson (.400, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 3 HR vs. Minnesota on April 19th); Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold (.467, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.133 SLG); Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (2-0, 1.20 ERA, 17 K, CG at Kansas City on April 16th); and Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (2-0, 1.72 ERA, 1 BB, 11 K, CG vs. Baltimore on April 21st).

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Philip Humber will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.