Pitcher Finds Perfection at the World Series

In this century, there have been 14 perfect games pitched in the major leagues.

But when Don Larsen did it in the 1956 World Series--43 years ago today--it had happened only three times, and not since 1922.

It was a stunner, because it was Larsen--no one had ever thought of him as a great pitcher--and because he did it in a World Series game.

He picked a grand stage--Yankee Stadium, before 64,519, on a perfect, sunny afternoon.

Larsen, one of the first no-windup starting pitchers, had a history of control problems, but not on this day. And he got two major defensive gems, from his infield and from Mickey Mantle.

In the second, the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson hit a screamer off third baseman Andy Carey’s glove. Shortstop Gil McDougald picked it up and threw out Robinson by half a step.

In the fifth, Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges sent a 410-foot drive to deep center field that Mantle, after a long, head-down run, speared by reaching across his body while in a sprint. In his book, “My Favorite Summer--1956,” Mantle called it the greatest defensive play of his career.

Larsen completed his masterpiece with a called third strike to pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell, then came the unforgettable sight of catcher Yogi Berra leaping into Larsen’s arms.

Also on this date: In 1957, to no one’s surprise, Brooklyn Dodger owner Walter O’Malley made it official--the Dodgers, after 67 years in Brooklyn, were moving to Los Angeles.