Don Larsen – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Don Larsen made baseball history on October 8, 1956, when he threw the only perfect game in World Series history.

The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher from Michigan City, Indiana, played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1967. He suited up for seven different teams during his career.

Even though he finished with a modest 81-91 record, Larsen’s perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series stands out as one of the most jaw-dropping achievements in baseball. A lot of folks remember him as “Gooney Bird,” a tall pitcher with a carefree attitude and a love for late nights. But when the pressure was highest, he showed up.

Larsen’s wild ride through professional baseball took him from the St. Louis Browns to the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Houston Colt .45s, and Chicago Cubs.

His career had wild swings, from the glory of a perfect game to leading the American League in losses with 21 defeats in 1954. After he retired in 1967, he worked in sales and kept close ties with the Yankees organization through Old-Timers’ Day celebrations until his death in 2020.

Don Larsen’s Career Overview

Don Larsen pitched for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, starting in 1953 and finishing up in 1967. He played for seven teams during his journey.

He started as a rookie with the St. Louis Browns. Larsen wrapped up his career with the Chicago Cubs, having crossed paths with both leagues.

Early MLB Beginnings

Don Larsen made his major league debut on April 18, 1953, with the St. Louis Browns at age 23. He faced the Detroit Tigers in his first game and pitched five shutout innings before things unraveled in the sixth.

That rookie season showed some promise, even though his team struggled. Larsen picked up his first MLB win on May 12, 1953, at Connie Mack Stadium against the Philadelphia Athletics. He pitched 7⅔ innings and allowed just one earned run as the Browns won 7-3.

The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954. Larsen endured one of the roughest seasons in baseball, posting a 3-21 record with a 4.37 ERA and leading the American League in losses. The team finished 54-100, which matched Larsen’s tough year.

Still, Larsen caught Yankees manager Casey Stengel’s eye by beating New York twice that season. That ended up being a turning point for his future.

Teams Played For

Larsen’s 15-year career took him through seven organizations in both leagues. He started with the St. Louis Browns (1953-1954), who became the Baltimore Orioles after the franchise moved.

The New York Yankees picked up Larsen in a massive 17-player trade in November 1954. He spent his best years in pinstripes from 1955-1959, winning World Series championships and making baseball history.

After New York, Larsen played for the Kansas City Athletics (1960-1961) and had a short stint with the Chicago White Sox (1961). He moved on to the San Francisco Giants (1962-1964) in the National League.

He finished up with the Houston Colt .45’s (1964-1965), who later became the Houston Astros, and finally the Chicago Cubs (1967). Larsen even returned to Baltimore briefly in 1965, bringing his career full circle.

Retirement in 1967

Don Larsen wrapped up his big league career with the Chicago Cubs in 1967 at age 38. He only saw limited action in that final season.

He ended up with a career record of 81 wins and 91 losses over 480 games. His 3.78 career ERA and 849 strikeouts were pretty solid for pitchers of that era.

Larsen’s retirement closed out a career that spanned three decades, including Army service during the Korean War from 1951-1952.

After leaving baseball, Larsen worked as a salesman for Blake, Moffett & Towne Paper Company in San Jose for about 25 years. He later retired to Hayden Lake near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and lived there quietly until his death in 2020.

Signature Achievements and Notable Games

Don Larsen hit his peak during the 1956 World Series. He delivered one of the most unforgettable performances in baseball, tossing a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

That game earned him the World Series MVP and helped the Yankees clinch a championship.

World Series Perfect Game

On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen did what no pitcher had managed before—or since. He threw a perfect game in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The game was pure pitching brilliance. Larsen faced 27 batters and retired every single one without letting a runner reach base.

He used a new no-windup delivery to keep the Dodgers guessing. That simplified motion helped him control the ball better all game.

Key moments from the perfect game:

• Mickey Mantle provided the only run with a solo homer in the fourth inning
• Larsen struck out seven batters
• The last out came on a called third strike to Dale Mitchell
• Yogi Berra leaped into Larsen’s arms after the final pitch

Larsen had actually struggled earlier in the Series. In Game 2, he lasted just 1⅔ innings, giving up four runs on one hit and four walks.

World Series MVP

Larsen’s perfect game earned him the 1956 World Series MVP award. He didn’t have eye-popping stats for the whole Series, but that one game changed everything.

The MVP came mostly because of the historic nature of Game 5. The perfect game broke a 2-2 Series tie and swung momentum to the Yankees.

Just goes to show, sometimes one amazing performance can overshadow everything else. Larsen’s complete game shutout was the difference in the Yankees’ championship run.

1956 World Series MVP Stats:

• 1 start, 1 complete game
• 9 innings pitched
• 0 runs allowed
• 7 strikeouts
• 1-0 record

That MVP award marked the high point of Larsen’s career. It turned him from a journeyman into a baseball legend.

World Series Champion

Don Larsen won two World Series championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958. His performances helped cement the Yankees’ dominance in the late 1950s.

The 1956 title felt extra special because of his perfect game. The Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games, with Larsen’s Game 5 outing as the turning point.

In 1958, Larsen played more of a supporting role as the Yankees topped the Milwaukee Braves. He pitched in relief in one game during that Series.

World Series Championships:

• 1956: Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3
• 1958: Yankees over Milwaukee Braves 4-3

Larsen also played in the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants, though they lost to the Yankees. That gave him a rare perspective, playing for both sides in a World Series.

His championship moments happened during an era when the Yankees ruled baseball. The team took four straight American League pennants from 1955-1958.

Pitching Style and Professional Performance

Don Larsen’s career swung between dramatic highs and regular struggles. His unique no-windup delivery became his trademark, and his stats showed the tough road of a journeyman pitcher.

Pitcher Profile

Don Larsen stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 215 pounds, so he was an imposing presence on the mound. The right-hander developed a distinctive no-windup delivery that played a huge role in his success—especially during the perfect game.

His teammates called him “Gooney Bird” because of his big ears, pear-shaped body, and long arms. Even with his physical gifts, Larsen didn’t always take training seriously.

Bob Turley, who played with him in the minors and majors, once said Larsen was a “fun-loving guy who liked to go out and have a beer or two.” That lifestyle sometimes clashed with his responsibilities as a pro.

One teammate remarked that Larsen “probably had a lot more ability than 95 percent of all the pitchers in baseball. He was a good hitter. He could run the bases. He could field the ball. But he was a lazy type.”

Career Statistics

Larsen’s stats tell the story of a pitcher who struggled but had flashes of brilliance. His earned run average and win-loss record show the challenges he faced over 15 seasons.

From 1953 to 1967, Larsen pitched for seven different teams. His roughest year came in 1954, when he led the league in losses with 21 and only won three games for the Orioles.

He bounced back in 1955, winning 18 games against just three losses when you add up his time with both the Yankees and their Denver farm club. That year helped him lock down a spot in the rotation.

Larsen could swing the bat surprisingly well for a pitcher. In 1953, he hit .284 in 81 at-bats and set a record for pitchers with seven straight hits.

Notable Records and Losses

Larsen’s career had one incredible moment that overshadowed everything else. His perfect game in the 1956 World Series is still the only perfect game in postseason history.

On October 8, 1956, Larsen needed just 97 pitches to retire all 27 batters he faced against the Dodgers. He struck out seven and picked up the World Series MVP.

Otherwise, his World Series outings were a mixed bag. In the 1955 Series, he gave up five earned runs on five hits and two walks in Game Four, taking the loss.

His Game Two start in 1956 wasn’t great either—he faced only 10 batters, and six reached base safely. Four walked, which led to four unearned runs charged to Don Larsen.

But that perfect game? It secured his place in baseball history and showed the potential his teammates always saw, even if it didn’t show up every day.

Postseason Contributions and Legacy

Don Larsen’s legacy comes down to one perfect October afternoon in 1956. That day, he pitched the only perfect game in World Series history and went from an average pitcher to a baseball legend. No one’s matched that standard in the postseason.

Impact in Playoffs

Larsen’s playoff performances were all over the map. In Game 2 of the 1956 World Series, he lasted just 1⅔ innings in a 13-8 loss to the Dodgers.

Three days later, on October 8, 1956, Larsen made baseball history. He threw 97 pitches and retired all 27 batters in Game 5. The Yankees’ right-hander struck out seven Dodgers, finishing with Dale Mitchell for the final out.

Key Stats from the Perfect Game:

• Pitches thrown: 97
• Strikeouts: 7
• Three-ball counts: 1
• Runs allowed: 0

Mickey Mantle’s homer in the fourth gave Larsen all the run support he needed. The Yankees added another in the sixth off Dodgers starter Sal Maglie.

Larsen’s performance helped the Yankees win the World Series in seven games. He picked up World Series MVP honors for that unforgettable day. The image of Yogi Berra leaping into Larsen’s arms? Still one of the most iconic moments in baseball.

Influence on Baseball History

Larsen’s perfect game set a postseason standard nobody has matched since. No pitcher in MLB postseason history has thrown a perfect game after 1956.

The achievement feels even more impressive when you think about the great pitchers who couldn’t do it. Hall of Famers like Sandy Koufax, Greg Maddux, Whitey Ford, and Roger Clemens all pitched in the World Series, but none of them managed a perfect game.

Without October 8, 1956, Larsen’s 81-91 career record probably would’ve made him fade into the background. Instead, that one day made him a permanent part of baseball history.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame displays several items from his perfect game. You can see autographed baseballs and Berra’s catcher’s mitt there.

Fans and players started seeing postseason pitching differently after his achievement. It showed that any player, even one with an unremarkable record, could create history on the biggest stage.

Larsen’s perfect game still stands as the gold standard for World Series pitching performances, even after all these years.

Personal Life and Later Years

Don Larsen had a life away from baseball that mixed personal struggles with some eventual stability. After he hung up his cleats in 1967, he found success in business and built a quieter life, far from the spotlight.

Early Life and Education

Don James Larsen was born on August 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Indiana. His father, James, worked as a watchmaker in a jewelry store, and his mother Charlotte waited tables at a restaurant.

Larsen first discovered baseball by watching his father play sandlot ball. He started playing himself at age 4, with his dad cheering him on.

The family moved to San Diego in 1944 when Don was 15. At Point Loma High School, he played both basketball and baseball and did well in both.

He got several college basketball scholarship offers but turned them all down. “I was never much with studies, and I didn’t really have an interest in going to college and studying my life away,” he admitted.

Instead, he signed with the St. Louis Browns for an $850 bonus after scout Art Schwartz saw him pitching for an American Legion team.

Life After Baseball

Larsen’s personal life during his playing days was, honestly, a bit messy. He secretly married Vivian in 1955 after she became pregnant, but he left her just three months later.

He said he preferred “a life of free and easy existence.” The court had to order him to pay child support for their daughter, Caroline Jean.

After retiring from baseball in 1967 with that 81-91 record, Larsen found some steadiness in the business world. He worked for a paper company in San Jose, California, for 25 years.

“I did a good job for them. Making a good living and supporting the family,” Larsen said about his life after baseball. He also took on a job as a liquor salesman during that time.

Once he retired from the paper company, Larsen moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with his wife Corrine. They settled in a quiet town overlooking Hayden Lake, far from the nightlife and noise of his earlier years.

Larsen passed away on January 1, 2020, at age 90 in Idaho.

Honors, Recognition, and Remembrance

Don Larsen earned his spot in baseball history with his World Series perfect game. Players and fans still find inspiration in his legacy, even decades after he left the game.

Awards and Distinctions

Larsen won the World Series Most Valuable Player award in 1956 after pitching the only perfect game in postseason history. His flawless performance against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 helped the Yankees win the championship in seven games.

That perfect game stands as the biggest achievement of his career. He retired all 27 batters he faced, threw just 97 pitches, and struck out seven.

Larsen became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in World Series history. He also marked the first perfect game in any postseason game.

The moment when catcher Yogi Berra leaped into Larsen’s arms became one of baseball’s most memorable images. That scene still captures the excitement and rarity of such an achievement on the sport’s biggest stage.

Legacy Among MLB Players

Larsen’s perfect game still stands alone in MLB postseason history, even after almost seventy years. No pitcher has managed to pull off anything quite like it in the World Series.

Players today keep bringing up Larsen’s performance when they talk about the pressure and wild difficulty of postseason baseball. His achievement just keeps setting the bar for what pitching excellence looks like.

That perfect game, honestly, feels like the absolute peak for any pitcher in professional baseball. It’s wild how a single game can basically define a career and lock someone into sports history forever.

Modern MLB players and coaches love to use Larsen’s story for inspiration. His example proves that, with the right preparation and execution, you can make legendary moments happen in the biggest games.