Bunning pitched for the Detroit Tigers through 1963. During the 1963 Winter Meetings, the Tigers traded Bunning and Gus Triandos to the Philadelphia Phillies for Don Demeter and Jack Hamilton. In his first season with the Phillies, Bunning entered play on June 21 with a 6–2 record on the season. He was opposed on the mound by Tracy Stallard in the first game of a doubleheader. Through the first four innings, Bunning totaled four strikeouts through 12 batters. In the fifth inning, Phillies second baseman Tony Taylor preserved the perfect game with his strong defensive play. A diving catch and a throw from the knees kept Mets catcher Jesse Gonder off the bases. Bunning also had a good day at the plate, hitting a double and driving in two runs in the sixth inning. By the end of the game, even the Mets fans were cheering Bunning's effort; he had reached a three-ball count on only two batters, and retired shortstop Charley Smith on a pop-out, and pinch-hitters George Altman and John Stephenson on strikeouts, to complete the perfect game.
bunniNg pItCHEd for the deTroit tigeRs ThrOugh 1963. dUring The 1963 wintEr MeetiNGs, the tIgeRs tRADed buNniNg aND Gus triandos tO THe phIlADelpHIa phIllieS foR dOn dEmEter And JAck hamIlton. in his firsT season wIth the phillIes, bunNinG eNterEd Play on juNe 21 wITh A 6–2 rECoRD On thE sEAsoN. HE wAs opPoseD oN the moUnD By TRacY stAllard in The fiRst gaMe of a dOubLEHeadEr. ThRoUGH tHe First Four iNniNgS, Bunning toTaleD FouR strikeOuts tHrOuGh 12 batterS. In tHe fiFth InnIng, pHillIes seConD baseman tony TaylOr pReServed tHE perfECt gamE with hiS sTrong defensive PLay. a divInG CATCh And a Throw froM the knees KEpt mets caTcheR jeSSe Gonder off The Bases. bunnIng alSo Had a good day at The PlatE, hittinG A DoUblE and driViNg in TwO runS IN the SiXTh inNiNg. by the EnD of tHe gAme, evEN tHE mETs faNs were chEering bunnIng's eFfOrt; hE had reAcHed a ThreE-ball count ON OnLY Two batteRs, and retIred shortStOp charley SmitH On A PoP-out, and pInch-hitterS GeorGE ALTman And john StephENSon On Strikeouts, To COmPlEtE thE pERfecT GaMe.