What is the fewest number of pitches that a pitcher in a major league baseball game can throw and come away with a complete game?

(A real complete game, not shortened by rain or anything like that)

(In reply to re: Solution by daniel trosdahl)

I think that's why S said 8 pitches (and to only balk twice). You pitch once to get someone on base. Then you balk, and the second person gets on base. You balk again, and the third person gets on base. Then you make an amazing triple play and you finished an inning with only one pitch.

I do think there has been some confusion about pitching during the 9th inning, though, in several posts (not just the one by S). If the team that bats during the top of the innings is losing, then the team that bats during the bottom of the inning doesn't need to play the bottom of the 9th because they are already winning.

So for this special pitcher to avoid pitching during the 9th inning, he must pitch on the bottoms of the innings. This means his team bats during the tops of the innings, which means his team must be LOSING (not winning) after the top of the 9th.

So, for those who approve of the solution that includes some balking, during at least one of those innings, you will have balk at least 3 times in order to let someone score. You still will have only made one pitch per inning, so the answer of 8 pitches for the game still holds.

For those who don't approve of solutions including balking, and think the answer is 24, that is not enough. Someone already explained how it would actually need to be 25. During one inning you would need to let someone score - otherwise your team is not losing and you would have to pitch the 9th inning. So let's say you pitched twice, and got both of those runners out. But you can't let the 3rd runner score AND get him out. So you have to pitch to him, let him score, pitch a 4th time and get the third out.
Edited on October 30, 2003, 4:37 pm

Posted by nikki on 2003-10-30 16:12:42