Born: December 21, 1982
The path of Philip Humber is a long and strange one. In the 29th round of the 2001 draft, the New York Yankees selected Humber, but he chose not to sign. Instead, Philip attended Rice University. It was a wise decision, as Humber was selected third overall in the 2004 draft by the New York Mets.
During his first season in the Mets minor league system, Philip was shut down due to elbow pain, which eventually required Tommy John surgery. He made his MLB debut with the Mets in September 2006. Humber's potential never surfaced in New York, so he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2008. Philip's struggles continued with Minnesota. After spending more time in the minors, he signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals in December 2009. While Humber earned his first MLB win with the Royals, he was put on waivers, where the Oakland Athletics claimed him in December 2010. When the A's 40 man roster filled up, Philip was waived again, where the Chicago White Sox claimed him on January 18, 2011.
While with the White Sox, pitching coach Don Cooper worked with Humber on a slider and a few mechanics. The tinkering worked, as Humber started to improve, taking a no-hitter into the seventh against the New York Yankees on April 25, 2011, in just his sixth MLB start. Philip continued to gain experience and confidence as a starter, while subbing for the oft injured Jake Peavy.
On April 21, 2012, Philip Humber pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history, joining ex teammate Mark Buehrle and 1920's hurler Charlie Robertson as pitchers who have accomplished that feat while in a Chicago White Sox uniform.
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