Photos: On this Day – October 8, 1956 – the only perfect game in a World Series

Posted Oct 08, 2012

On this Day, October 8, 1956, New York Yankees’s Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in a World Series; one of only 23 perfect games in MLB history.

He was pitching for the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8, 1956.Larsen started Game 5 for the Yankees. Larsen’s opponent in the game was Brooklyn’s Sal Maglie. Larsen needed just 97 pitches to complete the game, and only one Dodger batter, (Pee Wee Reese in the first inning), was able to get a 3-ball count. In 1998, Larsen recalled, “I had great control. I never had that kind of control in my life.”

It is the only perfect game in MLB postseason and World Series history and is one of only two no hitters in MLB postseason history. He won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award and Babe Ruth Award in recognition of his 1956 postseason.

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New York Yankees right-hander Don Larsen delivers a pitch in the fourth inning of Game 5 of the World Series Oct. 8, 1956 en route to the first World Series perfect game. The Yankees won 2-0 and went on to win the series. (AP Photo)
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This is an undated photo of Don Larsen, 19, with his mother, Charlotte Larsen, at their home in San Diego, Calif. Larsen, who is wearing his Point Loma high school athletic sweater, went on to pitch for the New York Yankees. (AP Photo)
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This is a view of the scoreboard at Yankee Stadium showing the 2-0 lead the New York Yankees have over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth in game 5 of the World Series in the Bronx on Oct. 8, 1956. Yankees pitcher Don Larsen pitched a perfect game, the only no-hitter in postseason play. (AP Photo)
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This is the scorecard used by Associated Press Sports Writer Ed Wilks, which is autographed by New York Yankee Pitcher Don Larsen, Oct. 8, 1956. (AP Photo)
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New York Yankees' catcher Yogi Berra leaps into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen after Larsen struck out the last Brooklyn Dodgers' batter to complete his perfect game during the fifth game of the World Series, Oct. 8, 1956. Racing up in the background is Joe Collins. (AP Photo)
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Catcher Yogi Berra (8) has jumped into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen while other Yankee teammates stream onto the field after Larsen pitched the first perfect game in World Series history, defeating the Dodgers 2-0 at New York's Yankee Stadium Oct. 8, 1956. Others include Tom Carroll (40), Norm Sieburn (36), Joe Collins (15), and Andy Carey, behind Larsen. (AP Photo)
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New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, center without cap, is hurried off the field after pitching the first perfect game in World Series history, defeating the Dodgers 2-0, Oct. 8, 1956 at New York's Yankee Stadium. To right of Larsen is catcher Yogi Berra, with infielder Gil McDougald at left. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
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Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra is embraced by Don Larsen as he leaps into Larsen's arms at the end of game five of the World Series, Oct. 8, 1956, at New York's Yankee Stadium. Larsen had pitched a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. (AP Photo)
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New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel praises Don Larsen in the dressing room after a no-hit, 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series game at Yankee Stadium in New York on Oct. 8. Larsen pitched the first perfect game in the 52-year history of the World Series championship. (AP Photo)
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Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Sal Maglie congratulates New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen on his perfect game in the World Series game against the Brooklyn Dodgers at New York's Yankee Stadium on Oct. 8, 1956. Larsen pitched a perfect game, giving the Yankees a 2-0 win. Maglie gave up five hits. (AP Photo)
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New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen signs a baseball for Brooklyn Dodgers manager Walter O'Malley in the dressing room after the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, 2-0, in the no-hitter World Series game at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 8, 1956. Larsen pitched the first perfect game in Series history. (AP Photo)
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Don Larsen, pitcher for the New York Yankees, poses in St. Petersburg, Fla., in March 1956. (AP Photo)
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Don Larsen of the New York Yankees poses with Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers (36) before taking the mound in second game of the World Series at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, Oct. 5, 1956. (AP Photo)