Auction Item Details
Lot 4
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Lot 4
Description: Set of (6) Don Larsen autographed baseballs - heavily inscribed and covered with a handwritten account of his World Series Perfect Game (NM) Set of (6) Rawlings B.Selig Official Major League baseballs are each signed "Don Larsen" and he has completely covered all with a lengthy and detailed account of his World Series Perfect Game. Handwriting and signatures generally rate 9 out of 10 and there is no mentionable wear to the balls. A transcription reads as follows: "I started game 5 of the 1956 World Series against Brooklyn in Yankee Stadium. It was Monday, October 8th. I didn’t think Casey Stengel would have me start again after my performance in game 2 in Brooklyn. However, he let Whitey Ford start Game 3 after losing Game 1. So he let me start Game 5. I’m glad he did. Arthur Richman and I went out and had a drinks and pizzas and was home early. When I came to the park the ball was in my shoe which meant that I would be starting. That’s when I said to myself. “Don’t screw this up.” I started the no wind up delivery earlier. I thought it would help my control and it did. I won four games straight. In this game. I had great control, the best I ever had. In the first, I went 3-2 on Reese which was the only time I went to a three-ball count. In the bottom of the fourth Mickey Mantle got the first hit of the game, a home run. The game was going pretty fast. In the sixth we got our second run. Andy Carey singled. I bunted him to second and Hank Bauer drove him in. It wasn’t until the 7th inning that I knew I had a no-hitter. I even took a cigarette break during the 7th inning stretch that I knew I had a no hitter after the 7th. I told Mickey to look at the scoreboard I said Two more innings to go wouldn’t that be something. He just looked at me. Then he got up and walked away. My teammates were more nervous than I was. No one would talk to me because they didn’t want to jinx me which I didn’t like. It wasn’t normal and it made me nervous. As time went on my control got better. Everything Yogi called I threw pretty close. Babe was doing a great job umpiring. In the ninth with one out to go, Brooklyn manager Walt Alston had Dale Mitchell pinch hit for Maglie and he was a great hitter. Yogi knew all the batters well and why change and mess it all up. I threw him my best fastball which froze him and he half-swung at the ball. Babe called strike 3 and it was over. Yogi ran out and jumped on me. He was so happy. It felt like weight of the World was lifted off my shoulders. What a feeling. But I didn’t know I threw a perfect game until someone told me in the clubhouse. I never could have made it without Yogi. He had played against the Dodgers so much before and knew them very well. There were two close plays. In the second Andy Carey knocked down Jackie Robinson’s line drive and it rolled to Gil McDougal who threw him out at first, barely. In the fifth Mickey Mantle caught Gil Hodges ball in deep left center, that would have been a home run in ??? Park today. Mickey could run like a deer and I’m glad he was there. I’m glad he was part of it. It was the greatest day of my life. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about it.": NM ($1,500-$2,500)Final Bid: DNS
Current EST: 07/07/24 12:56:03 PM