Don Larsen Auctioning Perfect Game Jersey
Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history for the Yankees back in 1956, and now he plans on cashing in on that historic moment by auctioning the jersey he was wearing.
It was October 8, the fifth game of the Series and the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers were tied two games each. The over 64,000 fans in Yankee Stadium watched as Don Larsen, then 27 years old, went to the only “ball three” count of the game, in the first inning, against Dodger Pee Wee Reese. After that the strikes kept coming until Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, a record that has lasted into the 21st century. The only run the Yankees scored was a low line drive hit by Mickey Mantle that sailed straight into the right field seats.
The amazing game ended when Larsen got a called third strike on pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell. The crowd went wild, and Yogi Berra, Larsen’s catcher jumped high into Larsen’s arms to create one of baseball’s most photogenic moments.
Ticket stubs from this incredible game have been sold for $2,000 each as valuable sports memorabilia. Larsen himself has already sold several items from that day including the baseball he threw for the game’s final out and the cap, glove and shoes he wore that day, for $120,750 back in 2002.
When asked what he thinks his jersey is might be valued at today Larsen answered, "I really don’t know what it’s worth.”
“But what I do know is that in terms of historic importance, my uniform is part of one of the greatest moments in the history of sports. I have thought about that perfect game more than once a day, every day of my life since the day I threw it.”
To get a bit of an estimate about what the jersey might be worth it can be noted that Berra sold his own jersey from that day for $565,000.
The jersey that Babe Ruth wore for road games back in 1920 recently became the most expensive bit of sports memorabilia ever sold at a cool $4.4 million.
The first day of the auction will take place on October 8, 2012, the 56th anniversary of that spectacular game, and ends on December 2nd. The auction is being sponsored by Steiner Sports Marketing.
