October 8, 1956. The Yankees and Dodgers have met 11 times for the World Series, seven while the Dodgers were in Brooklyn and four after their move to Los Angeles. Their seventh and final crosstown meeting was the most memorable, though, because of Don Larsen’s historic Game 5 performance.
The teams split the first four games of the World Series. Larsen, who lasted only 1.2 innings as a starter in Game 2, more than atoned for that performance in Game 5, throwing the only perfect game in World Series history.“
The imperfect man pitched a perfect game yesterday,” wrote the New York Daily News’ Joe Trimble. “…Don, an affable, nerveless man who laughs his way through life, doesn’t know how to worry… With the tension tearing at their nerves and sweat breaking out on the palms of the onlookers, Larsen seemed to be the calmest man in the place.”
Appearances were deceiving. “I was so nervous I couldn’t think straight. [Catcher] Yogi [Berra] had to do my thinking for me,” Larsen told the Daily News afterward. “My arm was still strong [in the ninth inning], but my legs began to wobble. They’re still wobbling now.”
Excerpt from Chris Mueller, “7 of the Most Memorable World Series in Baseball History,” History, October 19, 2021, updated: May 28, 2025. https://www.history.com/articles/memorable-world-series-moments-baseball-history Image credit: Stanley Weston/Getty Images.
Share this:
Discover more from The Brancatelli Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I love how people used to dress up for any event – unlike now, when people dress for the opera as though they were heading out to pitch hay. Anyway – Rob, do you remember Larsen coming to Paul Masson as a salesman? I can’t recall exactly what he was selling. Wikipedia says he was a liquor salesman, but that seems rather a ‘Coals to Newcastle’ scenario. In any case, I still have his autograph!
Good God, no. I don’t remember that at all! My loss. I think it would have been fitting, since I was still playing with baseball cards back then (a testament to my level of maturity)…Post a photo of the autograph.
I posted the photo in your FB PM.
I am seriously hoping for a Yankees comeback in the Division Series!!
Understood…I’d like to see Detroit win. I think they need it. (Don’t let anyone know that).
I was eight years old when Larsen threw his gem. I don’t think I appreciated the significance of what he accomplished, but I do remember Yogi jumping into his arms after the final pitch.
How quaint, though. A World Series game played in the afternoon, no color commentators, just baseball.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
How about the split screen with the batter’s photo? What really got me was how the fans were dressed: suits, hats, and ties…