Don Larsen

Don James Larsen, born on August 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Indiana, was an American professional baseball pitcher whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 15 years, from 1953 to 1967. His family moved to San Diego, California, in 1944. Larsen attended Point Loma High School, where he excelled in both basketball and baseball. His baseball talent was recognized early, leading to him signing a contract with the St. Louis Browns’ minor league team in 1947 with an $850 signing bonus. He progressed through various minor league teams, including the Aberdeen Pheasants and Wichita Indians, before serving in the United States Army for two years during the Korean War, primarily in non-combat roles. He was discharged in 1953 and joined the St. Louis Browns for his MLB debut.

Larsen began his MLB journey with the St. Louis Browns in 1953, where he posted a 7–12 record. The team relocated and became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, a season where Larsen notably went 3–21, leading the major leagues in losses. His career took a significant turn when he was traded to the New York Yankees in 1954 as part of a 17-player deal. With the Yankees from 1955 to 1959, Larsen achieved his most notable accomplishment: pitching the only perfect game in World Series history on October 8, 1956, against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. This historic feat earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award and the Babe Ruth Award. Throughout his time with the Yankees, he compiled a 45–24 record, often serving as a backup starter and reliever.

After his tenure with the Yankees, Larsen played for several other teams, including the Kansas City Athletics (1960–1961), Chicago White Sox (1961), San Francisco Giants (1962–1964), Houston Colt .45’s / Astros (1964–1965), and a brief return to the Baltimore Orioles (1965), before concluding his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in 1967. He also spent time in various minor league systems. Known for his unique no-windup pitching style and his ability to hit for a pitcher (ending his career with a .242 average and 14 home runs), Larsen retired from baseball in 1968. Off the field, he was known for his lively personality. After baseball, he worked as an executive for a paper company and published an autobiography, “The Perfect Yankee,” in 1996. He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions in 1964 and passed away on January 1, 2020, from esophageal cancer.