BYU's Perfect Game

Bobby Noel pitched one of 17 perfect games in the NCAA, the second to that date since 1957. There have been 23 perfect games pitched in the Major Leagues.

On April 20, 1961 the BYU Daily Universe printed the following written by Sports Editor Danny Moore, who was also the Cougar shortstop on that 1961 squad:

Noel: 'Nobody Had to Tell Me. I Knew"

"Nobody had to say anything.  I knew it.  I began thinking about a no-hitter about the fifth inning and nobody had to tell me I'd done it."

This is the way Brigham Young University pitcher, Bob Noel answered the typical questions fired at him following his perfect game performance against the University of Montana Grizzlies, Tuesday afternoon.

Noel, the fast-balling right-hander with the flawless control, heaped words of praise on the support of his teammates and the signal-flashing of catcher Jim Pierson.

"I couldn't have done it alone," he said during after game dressing room pandemonium.

A perfect game was a perfect and fitting climax for Noel, who hails from Chandler, Ariz.

Noel, who starred as a freshman at BYU, got off to a shaky start last season as a junior.  He lost his first two starts during the California road trip, began having arm trouble after the team's return and spent the later part of last season in the bullpen.

Noel came out of nowhere, however, to register two impressive wins during the latter days of the season, beating Utah State 11-1 and shutting out Utah 11-0.

This year on the California trip, Bobby started the game against the number one college team in the nation, the University of Southern California.  He lost 3-0, but allowed only five hits to the Trojans.  He has the victim, ironically enough, of a no-hit pitching performance by the Trojan's Jerry Mertz.