1956 World Series Game 5
One night of perfection: The only perfect game in World Series history, forever etched into Yankee lore.
On October 8, 1956, Game 5 of the World Series produced a moment that occupies a unique throne in baseball history: Don Larsen’s perfect game for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Played at Yankee Stadium under bright lights and immense pressure, this contest remains the only perfect game ever recorded in World Series history, widely regarded as the greatest individual pitching performance in postseason play.
- Pitcher
- Don Larsen
- Team
- New York Yankees
- Opponent
- Brooklyn Dodgers
- Result
- 2-0 Victory (Perfect Game)
- Hits Allowed
- 0
- Walks Issued
- 0
- Outs Recorded
- 27
Lore & Background
Every single batter Larsen faced was retired without a ball reaching base. He dismantled a formidable Dodgers lineup featuring stars like Duke Snider and Gil Hodges, silencing the offense completely. As the final out was recorded on a pop fly caught by Yogi Berra, the stadium erupted into pandemonium. Larsen collapsed to his knees, embraced immediately by Berra before teammates mobbed him on the mound. It was a moment of absolute perfection that defied the chaos of the game and the crushing weight of the stage.
In Their Own Story
The air at Yankee Stadium grew heavy with humidity as the bottom of the ninth approached. Don Larsen wiped sweat from his brow, eyes locked on Duke Snider standing ready at the plate. The crowd noise faded into a hushed tension for opposing fans, replaced by rhythmic chanting from the home side. With two strikes on Snider, he fouled off pitches before popping up into shallow right field. Yogi Berra leaped, his mitt snatching the ball out of thin air. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, the dam broke. The roar was deafening, shaking the very foundations of the stadium as Larsen fell to his knees, the realization washing over him: he had done the impossible.
Reader's Guide
The occasion for this historic contest was Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, a pivotal matchup between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. With the series tied at two games apiece, the stakes could not have been higher; a loss would have left the Yankees on the brink of elimination. Don Larsen, often viewed as a journeyman pitcher prior to this moment, took the mound with a mission that seemed insurmountable against one of the most potent lineups in baseball history.
What happened defies statistical probability. Larsen retired all 27 batters he faced, allowing zero hits and issuing zero walks. He struck out five Dodgers, including key sluggers like Duke Snider and Gil Hodges, while relying on a mix of precise fastball location and a devastating slider. The defensive support was equally flawless, with shortstop Billy Martin making a spectacular play in the first inning to preserve the no-hit bid. The game concluded 2-0, with Yogi Berra providing crucial offensive spark earlier in the contest.
This match is remembered not just for the victory, but for the sheer impossibility of the feat.
Did You Know?
- Don Larsen's perfect game remains the only one in World Series history out of over 140 series played since 1903.
- Yogi Berra, who caught the game, famously tackled Larsen after the final out and refused to let him stand up immediately.
- Larsen did not throw a perfect game during the regular season; he had a modest record of 11-5 that year before this historic night.
- The Yankees scored two runs in the first inning, with Hank Bauer driving one home on a sacrifice fly.