Don Larsen was a journeyman major league picture who produced one of the most extraordinary performances in Major League Baseball history. Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. He threw only 97 pitches in this historic game against a Dodger lineup that featured baseball legends Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, and Dude Snider. Mickey Mantle hit a home run in the 4th inning, and it was the only offensive support Larsen needed with the control he exhibited during this historic performance.
Check out Baseball-Almanac for a box score and read more about the game on Wikipedia.
Many historians consider this one of the Top 10 events in baseball history, so collectors have been eager to get their hands on items from, or related to, the game. I’ll cover a few different options if you’re looking to get an item related to Don Larsen and his perfect game.
Don Larsen sports card collectors have plenty of options since Larsen had a 15-year professional career.
His most popular cards include his 1954 Bowman rookie card and his 1956 and 1957 Topps cards that feature him when he was on the Yankees.
In 1961, Topps featured the perfect game on card #402, and in the same year, Nu-Card Scoops did the same.
A few full tickets and stubs from Larsen’s gem have been encapsulated by PSA as well.
The most iconic image from the game is of Yogi Berra jumping into Larsen’s arms. That image, and baseballs, can be found with both player’s autographs.
A few photographs featuring Larsen and his teammates are on the market.
Yogi Berra’s glove and a game-used ball are in the Baseball HOF collection.
And lastly, in 2012, Larsen’s game-worn uniform sold for $756k to Pete Siegel.
There has never been another perfect game in the World Series, and Larsen’s achievement is one for the record books. To this day, hobbyists still covet items from that Game 5 performance, and they have a lot of options to chose from.
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