Don Larsen

Don Larsen etched his name into history with one of the most iconic performances in baseball lore, a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. The only such feat ever accomplished in postseason play. A journeyman pitcher before and after that moment, Larsen’s singular brilliance on October 8, 1956, made him immortal in Yankees lore and solidified his place in baseball’s cultural memory. Over a 14-year career, he pitched for seven teams and compiled 81 wins.

The perfect game was Larsen’s crowning achievement. Coming in the fifth game of what was already shaping up to be a thrilling Series, Larsen faced down 27 Dodger batters, allowing only Pee Wee Reese to reach a three-ball count. The game, which turned Larsen’s into a household name, goes to show that even a long career can be defined by 97 pitches thrown on an October day.