HAYDEN LAKE, Idaho — Former Yankee Don Larsen — the only man to pitch a perfect game in a World Series — is putting his uniform from that historic day in 1956 up for sale to help fund his two grandsons’ college education.
On Oct. 8, 1956, Larsen retired all 27 Brooklyn Dodgers he faced, striking out seven as New York won Game 5 at Yankee Stadium on the way to winning the series in seven games.
As an indication of what the jersey and pants might be worth, the uniform Larsen’s teammate Yogi Berra wore that day sold for $565,000 at auction.
“I’m auctioning the uniform to provide my grandsons with enough money for a college education,” Larsen told The New York Times in a telephone interview from his home in Hayden Lake, Idaho.
“What the uniform actually sells for is not that important to me. Whatever happens, happens. I’m just hoping for enough to help the grandkids.”
Larsen, 82, and his sports marketing agent have consigned the uniform to Steiner Sports Marketing, which is set to hold an online auction from Oct. 8 — the 56th anniversary of the perfect game — to Dec. 2.
“I really don’t know what it is worth,” Larsen said. “But what I do know is that in terms of historic importance, my uniform is a 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.
“It was a moment in time that changed my life,” he added. “That one game has helped me tremendously over the years with paid appearances at card shows, conventions, all sorts of things.”
Larsen, a right-hander, had an 81-91 record with seven teams over 14 seasons. He was named World Series MVP in 1956.