Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 3 January 2020
Larsen

Continued from Page 17 threw out Robinson. In the
fifth, Mantle ran down a
"On a team of many stars, long drive to left-center
Don illustrated that anyone field by Gil Hodges. With
can make history — even two outs in the ninth, pinch-
perfection — on our sport's hitter Dale Mitchell took a
biggest stage," Manfred third strike, completing the
said. perfect game and sending
Larsen was the unlikeliest of catcher Yogi Berra dashing
characters to attain what out from behind the plate
so many Hall of Famers to leap into Larsen's arms.
couldn't pull off in the Fall "When Yogi Berra jumped
Classic. He was 81-91 life- on me and grabbed with
time, never won more than the bear hug, my mind
11 games in a season and went completely blank,"
finished an unsightly 3-21 Larsen wrote in his auto-
with Baltimore in 1954, the biography. "I was under
year before he was dealt friendly attack ... I was
to the Yankees as part of swept into the dugout."
an 18-player trade. Their celebration remains
In the 1956 World Series, one of baseball's most joy-
won in seven games by the ous images.
Yankees, he was knocked "Don's perfect game is a
out in the second inning defining moment for our
of Game 2 by the Brooklyn franchise, encapsulating a
Dodgers and didn't think storied era of Yankees suc-
he would have another op- cess and ranking among
portunity to pitch. But when the greatest single-game
he reached Yankee Stadi- performances in Major
um on the morning of Oct. League Baseball history,"
8, he found a baseball in his the Yankees said in a state-
shoe, the signal from man- ment. "The unmitigated joy
ager Casey Stengel that he reflected in his embrace
would start Game 5. with Yogi Berra after the
"I must admit I was game's final out will for-
shocked," Larsen wrote in ever hold a secure place
his autobiography. "I knew in Yankees lore. It was the In this Aug. 2, 2008, file photo, Former New York Yankees picher Don Larsen tips his hat to fans
during introduction ceremonies before an old-timers baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New
I had to do better than the pinnacle of baseball suc- York.
last time, keep the game cess and a reminder of the Associated Press
close and somehow give incredible, unforgettable
our team a chance to win. things that can take place developed the no-windup Pitching against the Yan- tendance after throwing
Casey was betting on me, on a baseball field." delivery. Promoted to the kees on Oct. 8, the sixth out the ceremonial first
and I was determined not Born Aug. 7, 1929, in Michi- majors midway through anniversary of his perfect pitch.
to let him down this time." gan City, Indiana, Larsen the season, he finished 9-2 game, he won in relief at No other pitcher has
The Dodgers and Yankees moved with his family to for New York. Larsen went Yankee Stadium. After thrown a perfect game in
split the first four games and San Diego, where he went 11-5 the next season and the 1959 season, he was the postseason, but in 2010
Stengel liked the decep- to Point Loma High School, enjoyed the party atmo- traded to Kansas City in a the Phillies' Roy Halladay
tion of Larsen's no-windup the alma mater of another sphere that came with deal that brought Roger pitched a no-hitter against
delivery. The manager's in- Yankees perfect game playing for the Yankees, Maris to New York. With the the Cincinnati Reds during
stincts proved correct. The pitcher, David Wells. Lars- often running with Mantle, A's, he went 1-10 in 1960, the National League Divi-
lanky right-hander struck en played basketball and Billy Martin and Whitey Ford a reminder of his dreadful sion Series.
out seven, needed just 97 baseball and was signed in their late-night rounds of season with the Orioles. He "They can never break my
pitches to tame the Dodg- by the St. Louis Browns for the city. On the night be- was sent back to the minors record," Larsen would say.
ers and only once went to a $500 bonus and $150 a fore his perfect game, he where he became a relief "The best they can do is tie
three balls on a batter — month. had been out on the town, pitcher and then moved it. October 8, 1956, was a
against Pee Wee Reese in After two minor league believing he was not in on to the Giants, Chicago mystical trip through fan-
the first inning. seasons, Larsen hurt his arm Stengel's plans for the next White Sox, Houston, Bal- tasyland. Sometimes I still
In winning 2-0, the Yankees and then spent two years in day. timore and the Chicago wonder whether it really all
themselves only managed the Army. He was promot- Larsen pitched in three Cubs. happened."
five hits against the Dodg- ed to the Browns in 1953 other World Series. He won Larsen retired in 1967 with Late on Wednesday night,
ers' Sal Maglie, but scored and moved with the team Game 2 in 1957 against an 81-91 record over 14 Cone tweeted "RIP my
on Mickey Mantle's home to Baltimore the following Hank Aaron and the Mil- major league seasons. He friend" with a photo of him-
run and an RBI single by year. He struggled through waukee Braves, but lost the later worked as a liquor self, Wells and Larsen to-
Hank Bauer. his 3-21 season but two of decisive Game 7. He shut salesman and paper com- gether on the field at Yan-
Larsen, selected MVP of the wins were against the out the Braves 4-0 on six hits pany executive and regu- kee Stadium.
the 1956 Series, had two Yankees, who insisted he in Game 3 of the 1958 Se- larly attended the Yankees' In addition to his son, Larsen
close calls. In the second be included in the trade ries, when New York beat annual Old-Timers' Day cel- is survived by his wife of 62
inning, Jackie Robinson hit that also brought pitching Milwaukee in seven games, ebrations. years, Corrine; daughter-in-
a hard grounder that was star Bob Turley to New York. and was back in the Bronx When David Cone tossed law Nancy; and grandsons
deflected by third base- Larsen started 1955 with the with the San Francisco Gi- a perfect game for the Justin and Cody.
man Andy Carey to short- Yankees' farm team in Den- ants for the 1962 Fall Clas- Yankees during the 1999 Funeral arrangements were
stop Gil McDougald, who ver, where he went 9-1 and sic. season, Larsen was in at- pending.q