Larsen, Don J.
Baseball
b. Aug. 7, 1929, Michigan City, IN
Larsen had a losing record, but he spent 14 seasons in the major leagues because of his great promise, and he will always live in baseball history as the only pitcher to throw a perfect game in the World Series.
A 6-foot-4, 227-pound right-hander, Larsen joined the St. Louis Browns of the AL in 1953 and had a 3-21 record after the franchise moved to Baltimore and became known as the Orioles in 1954. The Orioles traded him to the New York Yankees in 1955. He had his finest years there as a spot starter and occasional reliever.
In 1956, Larsen was 11-5 with a 3.26 ERA. He started the second game of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, but lasted less than two innings. With the Series tied at two games apiece, he got another chance in the fifth game. Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers hit a line drive off the third baseman's glove in the second inning, but was thrown out by the shortstop. In the fifth inning, Gil Hodges hit a long drive to left center and Mickey Mantle made a fine back-handed catch.
That was as close as the Dodgers came to getting a hit. Larsen, usually wild, went to three balls on only one hitter that afternoon. No Dodger reached base; the Yankees won 2-0 and they went on to win the World Series in seven games.
Larsen was 10-4 in 1957, 9-6 in 1958, and 6-7 in 1959. The Yankees then traded him to the Kansas City Athletics. He also pitched for the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs before retiring after the 1967 season.