Books and articles about Don Larsen

Though he had a mediocre career record, Larsen was immortalized by his World Series perfect game of October 8, 1956. He had gone 11-5 for the Yankees that year and, after being knocked out in the second inning of Game Two, started Game Five. He set down 27 Dodgers in a row, outdueling Sal Maglie and winning 2-0 for the first no-hitter in Series history. The last batter Larsen faced was Dale Mitchell, who was declared out by umpire Babe Pinelli on a called third strike. Mitchell and others, including Mickey Mantle in centerfield, thought the ball a bit outside, but mayhem had erupted and catcher Yogi Berra had jumped into Larsen's arms before Mitchell could argue.

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RELATED LINKS » 1956: October's Revenge Photos » Photo: Larsen leaves the field after his perfect game in the 1956 World Series Book Excerpts » The Perfect Yankee by Don Larsen with Mark Shaw » 1960: The Last Pure Season by Kerry Keene Submissions » Can't Buy a Hit: Notable No-Hitters by Jonathan Brolin » Trade a Player a Year Too Early, Not a Year Too Late by Harvey Frommer Ask The Experts » Who umpired Don Larsen's perfect game? Around the Web » TIGERS CORNER: Bonderman start matched by many from freep.com » Don Larsen from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Before joining the Yankees, Larsen had a 3-21 record for the 1954 Orioles to lead the AL in losses. But two of his wins came against New York, who took him as part of an 18-player deal that winter. One early morning in spring training of 1956, Larsen, who had a reputation as a partier, crashed his car into a telephone pole, prompting manager Casey Stengel to say, "He was probably mailing a letter." But he was a capable pitcher who, like Yankee teammate Bob Turley, adopted a no-windup delivery. His 11 wins in 1956 were his season high. He went 1-10 with the A's in 1960 and bounced around before receiving his last ML chance with the Cubs in 1967. He was the last active former St. Louis Brown. A lifetime .242 batter, he had 14 career home runs and was used 66 times as a pinch hitter. (GDW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 12, 1953: After 10 straight losses to Bobby Shantz going back to May 15, 1951, the Browns top the A's lefty, 7–3. Rookie Don Larsen, with 7+ innings of relief and an RBI triple, is the winner. » May 17, 1953: In a 10-inning 6–5 win over the visiting Browns, the Yanks and Browns use 41 players to set a new ML record. New York uses 23. The 3 hr. 33 minute game necessitates the nite game being called after three 1/2 scoreless innings. The Browns jump on Whitey Ford, threatening to hand the lefty his first defeat ever as a starter, but three relievers bail him out. Don Larsen goes nine 1/3 for the Browns, with Mike Blyzka losing. » May 21, 1953: At Fenway, Bosox C Del Wilber hits his 3rd pinch homer of the year, this one a 14th inning solo homer to beat the reliever Don Larsen and the Browns, 3–2. Former Red Sox Don Lenhardt takes Skinny Brown downtown with a CF shot just left of the flag pole and the last upright of the screen. » April 13, 1954: The brand new Baltimore Orioles open in Detroit and lose, 3–0. Don Larsen takes the loss against Steve Gromek. The Tigers start fast and will win 12 of their first 18 games. » May 16, 1954: The Orioles draw a record Memorial Stadium crowd of 46,796 for a doubleheader with the Yankees. Allie Reynolds wins the opener for New York, 2–0, on three hits, before Don Larsen stops the Yankees, 6–2 in the nitecap. » November 18, 1954: In an enormous two-part trade begun on November 14, the Yankees and Orioles exchange 17 players. Included are 1B Dick Kryhoski, pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, and SS Billy Hunter from Baltimore. To the Orioles go OF Gene Woodling, SS Willie Miranda, pitchers Harry Byrd and Jim McDonald, and catchers Gus Triandos and Hal Smith. The trade will help both teams. » July 31, 1955: Don Larsen wins 5-2, as the Yanks and Athletics collaborate for nine DPs, with the New Yorkers turning 6. Cloyd Boyer, who had 3 of his first 8 pitches hit for HRs -- by Bauer, Mantle, and Berra -- takes the loss. » April 22, 1956: Yankee P Don Larsen slams a HR with the bases loaded off Frank Sullivan of the Red Sox, as New York wins 13-6. » October 8, 1956: Series history is made by Don Larsen of the Yankees, who pitches a perfect game to defeat the Dodgers 2-0 in Game 5. He requires only 97 pitches. Sal Maglie matches him until Mickey Mantle homers in the 4th. » October 5, 1957: The Yankees score 5 in the 7th to cap a 12-3 win, as Don Larsen, in relief of Bob Turley, defeats Bob Buhl. Tony Kubek of the Yankees becomes only the 2nd rookie in WS history to hit 2 HRs in a WS game. » September 20, 1958: Orioles P Hoyt Wilhelm, in a rare start (he is 0-6 this year when starting), pitches a 1–0 no-hitter, the first in O's history, against Don Larsen of the Yankees, fanning 8. Larsen allows one hit through six innings. The Orioles acquired Wilhelm in August for the $20,000 waiver price. The win, Wilhelm's first ML complete game, and his only this year for the O's, improves his record to 3-10. The winning margin is Gus Triandos' 30th home run, off reliever Bobby Shantz. » October 4, 1958: Yankee pitchers Don Larsen and Ryne Duren combine for a shutout as New York wins 4-0. Yankee OF Hank Bauer accounts for all 4 runs, including a 2-run homer in the 7th. » June 12, 1959: The Yanks top Jim Bunning and Detroit, 6–4, to give Casey Stengel his 1,000th win as the Yankee skipper. Don Larsen picks up the win. » December 11, 1959: The A's Arnold Johnson gives the New York Yankees an early Christmas present when he gift wraps Roger Maris in pinstripes. The Yankees acquire the slugger in a 7-player deal that sends P Don Larsen, RF Hank Bauer, 1B Marv Throneberry, and LF Norm Siebern to the Athletics. » June 10, 1961: Pitchers Ray Herbert and Don Larsen, 3B Andy Carey, and OF Al Pilarcik of the A's go to the White Sox for pitchers Bob Shaw and Gerry Staley and outfielders Wes Covington and Stan Johnson. » November 30, 1961: The Giants acquire pitchers Don Larsen and Billy Pierce from the White Sox for pitchers Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni, and Verle Tiefenthaler and 1B Bob Farley. The swap is a steal for the Giants, one of their best trades since moving to California. Pierce, another Chicago favorite, will win 16, while Larsen will win five and save 11 for the pennant winners. » June 21, 1964: On Father's Day at Shea Stadium, Jim Bunning fans 10, drives in two runs, and pitches the first perfect game (excluding Don Larsen's 1956 World Series effort and Harvey Haddix's 1959 overtime loss) since Charlie Robertson's on April 30, 1922. Philadelphia beats the Mets 6–0. He also becomes the first pitcher to win no-hitters in both leagues, and Gus Triandos becomes the first C to catch a no-hitter in each league. Bunning throws just 90 pitches in winning his 2nd no-hitter. The next time Bunning faces the Mets he will shut them out, the first no-hit pitcher this century to do that. The Mets don't fare much better in the nitecap as 18-year-old rookie Rick Wise wins his 1st game and gives up just three hits for an 8–2 win. Johnny Klippstein comes on in the 9th. The Phils increase their National League lead to two games over the Giants. » April 5, 1966: Don Larsen, last active member of the old St. Louis Browns, is released by the Orioles. » July 4, 1983: Dave Righetti pitches the Yankees' first no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, handcuffing the Red Sox 4–0 before a holiday crowd of 41,077 at Yankee Stadium. It's the first no-hitter by a Yankee lefty since George Mogridge in 1917. » July 18, 1999: Don Larsen, who hurled a perfect game for the New Yorkers in the 1956 World Series, throws out the first pitch prior to New York's game against the Expos. The Yankees then defeat the Expos, 6-0, as David Cone caps an emotional day by hurling a perfect game. Cone fans 10 batters as not a single Montreal player reaches base.