Don Larsen

I saw that...it's interesting the only film that exists is from the 2nd inning on...

I never getting tired of watching the Larsen footage...

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Waltrip:
I saw that...it's interesting the only film that exists is from the 2nd inning on...

I never getting tired of watching the Larsen footage...

Hmmm, I wonder if it really was a perfect game? Possibly more of that ESPN East Coast bias? Maybe there was another pitcher on the grassy knoll.

I have been told that Don Larsen was from Michigan City, Indiana. Can anyone confirm or deny?

I'm not sure where he was born but I understand he went to the same high school in California where David Wells went. As you know Wells pitched a perfect game in around 1999.

Just talking to my son about that last night. Saw a documentary of some sort either on Larsen's perfect game or he was a part of a bigger documentary. Heard when the lineup was posted, the rest of the team was shocked and generally questioned why he was starting in such a big game. Rest of his career wasn't much, but he will forever be remembered for that one game.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Waltrip:
I saw that...it's interesting the only film that exists is from the 2nd inning on...

I never getting tired of watching the Larsen footage...

Hmmm, I wonder if it really was a perfect game? Possibly more of that ESPN East Coast bias? Maybe there was another pitcher on the grassy knoll.

I was actually thinking that, but didn't want to say it...

Yes he was born in Michigan City Indiana

Thank You 2bagger

"Larson. Why is HE pitching?"
Man that goes right up there with, "Hey Wilbur and Orville, you are wasting your time."

Only two years before that Larsen had a 3 and 21 win loss record. You don't see that every day.

Another great baseball example of keep on keeping on.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
I'm not sure where he was born but I understand he went to the same high school in California where David Wells went. As you know Wells pitched a perfect game in around 1999.

Don Larsen and David Wells attended Point Loma "Pointers' HS in San Diego as well as three year big leaguer Jim Fuller (OF) (born in Maryland)

Larsen was NOT drafted, and had the longest MLB career (14 yrs) until Wells got his 15th year career in (and then lasting for another 6 years).
Wells could deal and successfully for five innings on the bump tonight!

There was no major league draft in Larsen's day as it didn't start until 1965.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
There was no major league draft in Larsen's day as it didn't start until 1965.

A MLB committee named by Commissioner Kenesaw M. used a draft to assign minor league players to teams since 1921. It was rather controversial

Then in 1964, and as voted on at the 1964 Winter Meetings, the initial first year MLB amateur draft (also referred to as Rule IV Draft) was held in June 1965. Kansas City Athletics took Rick Monday, the first pick.

From the 64 Winter Meeting agreements there were three drafts each year. The June draft is the largest. A January draft was held for players who graduated in the winter, and there was an August draft for players typically from American Legion amateur summer leagues.

Larsen signed with the St. Louis Browns as an amatuer Free Agent in 1947.

Finally got to see the Larson perfect game (at least I saw the last 3 innings). Some observations:

There were at least 4 checked swings in those last 3 innings that would almost certainly have been called strikes now adays but no one even bothered to request a base umpire's call. One occurred with two strikes in the 9th inning of a perfect game attempt!

Two foul balls down the line picked up by the batboy--no fans pleading for the ball--he simply gets the ball and ignores the fans and trots back to the dugout.

Sal Maglie, the Dodger pitcher goes up over and literally behind his head with his hands while pitching from the stretch.

While touting the Baseball Encyclopedia(Dinosaur Edition) Vin Scully seems to think that this is only the second perfect game in history.

After the game there is a long shot of the fans just meandering all over the field to go in the direction they will leave the park. No wild maniacs just people talking and going about their business.

Vin Scully's silky smooth voice just telling us the minimum amount of play by play, not telling what should happen(Tim McCarver) or telling us what was done right or wrong(Joe Morgan)

Jackie Robinson's interesting 2 strike reaction where he acts like somethings in his eye but immediately goes to the on deck circle and instead of grabbing a towel, grabs a giant rosin bag, says something to Hodges, grabs Hodges bat' kind of weighs the two bats then goes back up to the plate to a lot of boos. He then lunges at a pith and grounds out to more boos. Interesting look at someone in game action.

All and all I loved it and hope to catch the rest later.

Vin Scully called that game? Wow, that dude's been around forever.

He's my favorite.

A couple of other observations during the three innings I saw:

This is game action of Mickey Mantle at his absolute zenith as a player, 25 years old during a triple crown season. He makes a very good running catch and hits an HR earlier in the game. Looks almost relieved on a catch in right center late in the game.

A batter walks up to the plate with two bats and without looking kind of hands one of the bats to a batboy who follows him to the plate.

After a strikeout the catcher throws the ball around to the 3rd baseman then receives the ball from the 1st basemen then throws it again to the 3rd baseman before it goes back to the mound.

I got to see it today.

At one point, the pitcher struck out to end the inning (what? no DH!) and the catcher flipped him the ball right there in the box.

A valuable lesson can be learned from this great game!

5 starts before this game during the end of the regular season Don Larson was a full high leg kick traditional pitcher. He was starting an in between games bull pen and decided to throw the whole pen with out lifting his leg and just driving straight forward because he found out he produced better command more movement and a heavier (in those days it meant higher velocity) fastball said Yogi Berra when asked about it. Yogi said he became sneaky fast. Larson approached his pitching coach and asked if he could pitch this way and he said as long as you get outs I don’t care how you pitch. Larson had 4 games with his new Crow-step mechanics before he perfected them in a World Series game.