Don Larsen's Perfect Game

Lore & Background

Larsen retired all 27 batters he faced, needing just 97 pitches. The final out was a called third strike on pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell, called by home plate umpire Babe Pinelli. Yogi Berra caught the game and leaped into Larsen's arms after the final out. The Yankees went on to win the series in seven games.

Reader's Guide

The game was televised by NBC with Mel Allen and Vin Scully announcing. A nearly-complete kinescope recording was discovered in 2006 and aired on MLB Network in 2009. Two color films exist: one shot by Saul Terry on 8 mm film, and another shot by Al Mengert on 16 mm film.

Did You Know?

• Larsen struck out 7 batters in the perfect game.
• Only one Dodger batter, Pee Wee Reese in the first inning, got a three-ball count.
• The closest the Dodgers came to a hit was a line drive by Jackie Robinson in the second inning and a deep fly ball by Gil Hodges caught by Mickey Mantle in the fifth.