Even with a surprising run of five perfect games in three seasons from 2010-12 -- including a three in '12 alone -- the achievement of retiring all 27 men in order remains one of the rarest of baseball's gems. There have been just 23 such outings among the hundreds of thousands of big league games played since Rutherford B. Hayes was in the White House.

"When it was over, I was so happy, I felt like crying," said Don Larsen, who threw the only perfecto in postseason history for the Yankees vs. the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

While there have been many other close calls -- including the Pirates' Harvey Haddix's 12 innings of perfect baseball in 1959 before losing the game in the 13th inning, and the Tigers' Armando Galarraga losing his in 2010 on a clearly missed umpire's call at first base on what would have been the final out of the game -- here are the only 23 men who have been perfect from the first out until the last:

• Felix Hernandez, Aug. 15, 2012
Mariners vs. Rays, 1-0

• Matt Cain, June 13, 2012
Giants vs. Astros, 10-0

• Philip Humber, April 21, 2012
White Sox at Mariners, 4-0

• Roy Halladay, May 29, 2010
Phillies at Marlins, 1-0

• Dallas Braden, May 9, 2010
Athletics vs. Rays, 4-0

• Mark Buehrle, July 23, 2009
White Sox vs. Rays, 5-0

• Randy Johnson, May 18, 2004
D-backs at Braves, 2-0

• David Cone, July 18, 1999
Yankees vs. Expos, 6-0

• David Wells, May 17, 1998
Yankees vs. Twins, 4-0

• Kenny Rogers, July 28, 1994
Rangers vs. Angels, 4-0

• Dennis Martinez, July 28, 1991
Expos at Dodgers, 2-0

• Tom Browning, Sept. 16, 1988
Reds vs. Dodgers, 1-0

• Mike Witt, Sept. 30, 1984
Angels at Rangers, 1-0

• Len Barker, May 15, 1981
Indians vs. Blue Jays, 3-0

• Catfish Hunter, May 8, 1968
Athletics vs. Twins, 4-0

• Sandy Koufax, Sept. 9, 1965
Dodgers vs. Cubs, 1-0

• Jim Bunning, June 21, 1964
Phillies at Mets, 6-0

• Don Larsen, Oct. 8, 1956
Yankees vs. Dodgers, 2-0

• Charlie Robertson, April 30, 1922
White Sox at Tigers, 2-0

• Addie Joss, Oct. 2, 1908
Naps vs. White Sox, 1-0

• Cy Young, May 5, 1904
Americans vs. Athletics, 3-0

• John Ward, June 17, 1880
Grays vs. Bisons, 5-0

• Lee Richmond, June 12, 1880
Ruby Legs vs. Blues, 1-0