Don Larsen Passes
Former MLB player Don Larsen passed away last week, on New Year’s Day. He was 90.
His MLB career was reasonably long, though decidedly not of Hall of Fame caliber. However, on 8 October 1956, Larsen caught “lightning in a bottle” – making history in the process.
On that date, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. Until 2010, it was also the only MLB postseason no-hitter; it remains the only no-hitter pitched during a World Series game.
So, why mention his passing here? Like many of his era, Larsen was also a vet. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War, serving from 1951 to 1953.
Godspeed, Mr. Larsen. May you have been in heaven a half-hour before the Devil knew you were gone.
Category: Baseball, Blue Skies
The photograph of Yankees catcher Yogi Berra jumping into pitcher Don Larsen’s arms is iconic. On that day, Larsen proved Berra’s observation that “Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
I’ve been a Yankees fan since the mid-1970s growing up in Upstate NY. I’m looking forward to The Captain, Derek Jeter’s enshrinement in the Baseball HoF in 2020. Let’s Go Yankees!!
“Like many of his era, Larsen was also a Vet.” Can’t say that about the majority of the prima donna athletes of later eras. Godspeed and Farewell Don Larsen. He’ll have a trifecta of cheering sections greeting him; the Troops he served with, the players he played with, and the fans that he played for. And from what I’ve read, he was a real class act. Rest in Peace Good Sir.
It’s really too bad that being a Veteran is something that is missed by so many in our world these days.
Being a Veteran is that you actually stood for something in your life and that you believed enough in yourself to put yourself and your life on the line for others.
I believe that it is a selfless act and being selfless is something these clowns have no idea how that works…
It is also an adventure beyond anything that your dreams could bring you…..
How the Hell else could I have seen the magnificence of the Great State of Alaska and so many parts of it had I not joined the US Army.
And how the Hell else could I have become a US Army certified, 9’Th Infantry Division Ski Instructor ???
And we are few and far between these days !!!
I feel like Spock in the first Star Trek on the new timeline !!!
An endangered species !!!
I am so special !!!
Had to do a double take of the image. It reminded me of Bill Freehan and Mickey Liloch following the Tigers 1968 World Series win. I’m not a Tigers fanatic or baseball trivia guru – Bill Freehan just happened to marry my dad’s sister. To me he was just Uncle Bill, just like any other uncle with 11 all-star appearances and 5 golden glove awards. He unfortunately is suffering from Alzheimer and is in hospice. Getting old is a bummer. He wasn’t a vet, but was a great guy, nonetheless.
As for Don Larson, rest well, sir. You’ve earned it.
Mid fifties baseball hero.
It was great being a kid then when heros were everywhere.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Larson.
He was a good hitter, too, with 14 home runs and a .242 batting average.
Larsen pitched Game 2 of that series and gave up four unearned runs and was pulled in that game – was not expecting to pitch again in the series. Came in on the day of Game Five and saw that there was a baseball in his cleat (Casey Stengel’s way of telling a pitcher he was going to start). Went with a “no-windup” style and pitched a perfect game (the previous one was in 1922).
David Wells grew up in San Diego and went to the same high school – pitched a perfect game while with the Yankees in 1998. David Cone pitched his perfect game on “Yogi Berra Day” and Don threw out the first pitch to Berra in 1999.
He will be truly missed. Just a great athlete who loved to play. Some of today’s could take a lesson from the 1950’s dugouts of players.