PITCHER PERFECT | On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen hustled off the field after pitching the only perfect game in World Series history. Confusing Brooklyn with a no-wind-up delivery, the 27-year-old journeyman -- who won only 11 games during the season -- retired 27 straight batters in a 2-0 victory. "We didn't like being his victim," said Brooklyn's Rube Walker, "but we had to give him credit -- some of the guys would tell me that since we weren't going to beat Larsen that day they were rooting for him." The Yankees avenged their loss to Brooklyn in the 1955 World Series by beating them for their sixth championship in eight years under Stengel.

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