On October 8, 1956, New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen took the mound for Game 5 of the World Series against the rival Brooklyn Dodgers. In an improbable performance that the New York Times called the greatest moment in the history of the Fall Classic, Larsen, an otherwise mediocre journeyman pitcher, retired twenty-seven straight Dodger batters to clinch a perfect game and, to date, the only post-season no-hitter ever witnessed in major league baseball.
Here, Lew Paper delivers a masterful pitch-by-pitch account of that fateful day and the extraordinary lives of the players on the fieldaseven of whom would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Meticulously researched and relying on dozens of interviews, Paperas gripping narrative recreates Larsenas feat in a pitching duel that featured legendary figures like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, and Roy Campanella.
More than just the story of a single game, "Perfect" is a window into baseballas glorious past.