On May 15 in sports history, one significant event occurred in 1981 when Len Barker, a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium. This was only the tenth perfect game in modern Major League Baseball history at the time.

Barker, a 25-year-old right-hander, took the mound that Friday night in front of a modest crowd of 7,290 fans. Little did they know they were about to witness a historic performance. Barker was dominant from the start, retiring the first 11 batters he faced before Rick Bosetti reached base on an error in the fourth inning. However, Bosetti was promptly caught stealing, and Barker continued his flawless pitching.

As the game progressed, the tension mounted with each out. Barker's teammates rallied behind him, making spectacular defensive plays to preserve the perfect game. In the seventh inning, a diving catch by center fielder Rick Manning helped maintain Barker's bid for perfection.

In the ninth inning, Barker faced the heart of the Blue Jays' lineup. He struck out Al Woods and Ernie Whitt for the first two outs. The final batter, Rance Mulliniks, worked a full count before Barker delivered a called strike three to complete the perfect game. The Cleveland Stadium erupted in celebration as Barker's teammates rushed to the mound to embrace him.

Barker's perfect game was a masterful performance, striking out 11 batters and never allowing a single baserunner. It was the first perfect game in Cleveland Indians history and remains one of the most memorable moments in the franchise's history.

Len Barker's achievement on May 15, 1981, solidified his place in baseball lore and gave Cleveland fans a night they would never forget. It was a shining example of the magic that can happen on any given day in the world of sports.