On this day...

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

1956: Don Larsen throws a perfect game in the 5th game of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mickey Mantle homers in the 4th inning.
Does anyone have an article from this game?
On a sadder note, 1995: Don Mattingly hits a 2-run double in his last major-league game. There were so many things wrong with that series.

[TinoFan84]

I did know that this was the anniversary of Larsen's perfect game - my dad has told me many stories about that whole series. I wish I had some articles about it - I do remember reading something about it in, I think, "The Duke of Flatbush" about Duke Snider.

I had no idea this was also the anniversary of Mattingly's last game - what a shame he didn't make it one more year to get his WS ring!

[Jersey Yankee]

Here's one article I found from TSN's 25 greatest moments (http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/3.html):

Larsen's Perfect Game

THE DATE
October 8, 1956.

THE PLACE
Yankee Stadium, New York.

THE SITUATION
Game 5 of the 1956 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

THE KEY PLAYER:
New York's Don Larsen.

THE MOMENT
Don Larsen became the first and only pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game in the World Series by retiring all 27 Dodgers he faced in Game 5. Larsen got a called third strike on pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell to end the game and set off a wild celebration that began with Yankees catcher Yogi Berra leaping into Larsen's arms. Larsen only went to a "ball three" count on one batter -- Pee Wee Reese in the first inning -- and needed just 97 pitches to complete his masterpiece.

THE CALL
"Two strikes and a ball . . . Mitchell waiting, stands deep, feet close together. Larsen is ready, gets the sign. Two strikes, ball one. Here comes the pitch. Strike three! A no-hitter! A perfect game for Don Larsen!" -- Bob Wolff, NBC-TV.

DO YOU REMEMBER?

In the second inning, Jackie Robinson smashed a line drive that was deflected by Yankees third baseman Andy Carey to shortstop Gil McDougald, who threw out Robinson at first.

Dodgers starter Sal Maglie pitched a great game himself. Maglie retired the first 11 batters he faced. In the fourth inning, Mickey Mantle hit a low line drive into the right field seats, just inside the foul pole. Mantle's homer gave New York a 1-0 lead. If the game had been at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, Mantle's hit would have likely been off the right field screen for a double.

In the top of the fifth, Gil Hodges, a 32-homer man during the regular season, drove a pitch into deep left-center field. Said Larsen: "Mantle made a beautiful catch. That ball probably would have been a home run in most parks, but Yankee Stadium at that time was pretty big in left-center. Mantle could run like a deer, caught that ball and I had another sigh of relief."

The next batter, Sandy Amoros, hit a line drive toward the right field corner but it curved foul and just missed being a home run.

IN THEIR WORDS
"I think about it every day. Sometimes it's hard to believe it ever happened. I'm glad it did because everybody thinks about that and forgets all the mistakes I made in my career." -- Larsen.

"Nobody would talk to me, nobody would sit by me -- like I had the plague. I don't believe in that superstition stuff. You just do your best. Some of the guys didn't want to say anything, afraid they'd put a jinx on it." -- Larsen.

"He was great. I've never caught a greater pitcher than Don was today." -- Berra.

"I had more managers around me on the bench than any pilot ever had before. The boys were helping me place the outfielders." -- Yankees manager Casey Stengel.

AFTERMATH

Larsen pitched another three years for the Yankees before bouncing from team to team over the final seven seasons of a 14-year career. He retired in 1967 with a forgettable career record of 81-91, failing again to approach the heights he achieved on that October afternoon in 1956.

After losing Game 5, the Dodgers were down three games-to-two and the Series shifted back to Brooklyn. The Dodgers won Game 6 1-0 in 10 innings when Robinson's line drive to left field got past Enos Slaughter to score Junior Gilliam. However, the Yankees breezed to a 9-0 win in Game 7. This would be the Dodgers' last World Series appearance in Brooklyn. The team relocated to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.

[Jersey Yankee]

Click here (http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/list.html) for the entire list of TSN's 25 greatest baseball moments.

I just found a great link for Larsen memorabilia (http://www.nidlink.com/~bhbi/yankee/index.html).