October 8th, 1956..... I told my Mom that I didn't feel well (I really wanted to see a World Series game in its entirety)...... so, I played "hooky" and
switched the TV on at noon.
Yes, that was the day Don Larsen pitched his PERFECT game vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 1st inning, Pee Wee Reese worked the count to 3-2.
This was the only at bat by any of the 27 Dodgers to face Larsen that day that went that deep into the count.
Larsen, modestly, said at the end of the game...."the Dodgers made it easy, I only threw 96 pitches".
The real moment of truth occurred in the 5th inning. Gil Hodges drives Larsen's pitch to deep Left-Center field. Mickey Mantle on the run, catches
the ball in front of the wall at the 457-foot mark.
Summer of 2007, I met Don Larsen in Cooperstown, he signed this photo, and we talked for about 1/2 an hour about this great game.
Don is a tremendous guy to talk with.
T-Rex TED
.