Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history with 97 pitches.
In short: In 1956, New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen achieved the impossible: a perfect game during the World Series. It remains the only solo no-hitter and perfect game in the history of the Fall Classic. Yet, this legendary performance was delivered by a man known more for his nightlife than his discipline.
Born in 1929, Don Larsen was a journeyman pitcher whose 15-year career spanned seven teams. Before his historic 1956 season, he had struggled significantly, notably leading the major leagues in losses in 1954 while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. Despite his inconsistency and a reputation for violating curfews, Yankees manager Casey Stengel saw potential in the right-hander, acquiring him in a 17-player trade that many observers initially believed favored the Orioles due to the inclusion of Bob Turley.
Larsen’s defining moment occurred on October 8, 1956, during Game 5 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Needing only 97 pitches, he retired all 27 batters he faced, with only one Dodger reaching a three-ball count. The game concluded when he struck out pinch hitter Dale Mitchell, prompting catcher Yogi Berra to leap into his arms—an image that became iconic in sports history. Larsen later credited his success to his control and Berra’s framing, noting he had never possessed such precision in his life.
The irony of the perfect game was profound. While Larsen was achieving baseball immortality, his personal life was in turmoil; his estranged wife was in court that same day seeking to garnish his World Series earnings for unpaid support payments. Larsen’s career eventually wound down through various teams, including the San Francisco Giants, where he became a reliable reliever and earned the nickname 'Froggy' for his unique hobby of hunting frogs. He retired in 1968 and passed away in 2020 at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy anchored by a single, miraculous afternoon in the Bronx.
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