The only person ever to pitch a perfect World Series game, Don Larsen, died yesterday at the age of 90. In his fifteen years as a journeyman pitcher for seven teams, Larsen amassed a mediocre record of 81-91, but for one magical day in 1956 he was perfect, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers with no hits, no runs, and no errors.
Much has been written about Larsen’s feat and his life, which were something of a contrast. He confessed that his control over the baseball and his enjoyment of a good time in life were far from perfect, and he himself lived in awe of his accomplishment with apparent humility.
Game five of the Series could easily have gone the other way, with both hits, home runs and one potential error snatched from the Dodgers by excellent fielding from the Yankees team. As the game progressed, Larsen said that he realized he had a no-hitter going (something that had never occurred in the World Series and has not since). It was not until the game was over, Yogi Berra had leapt into his arms, and Larsen had returned to the dugout, however, that he learned he had pitched a perfect game.
In today’s era of frequent pitching changes and end of game closers, it is increasingly likely that there will never again be a perfect Series game. Like Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak, Don Larsen’s perfect game is apt to remain pinnacles in a game measured by numbers. Larsen’s, like the ones on his license plate will stand: “000.”
