The perfect moment

Sixty-seven years ago today – at a couple of minutes after 1 p.m. to be exact – Don Larsen throws his first pitch of the day to Brooklyn Dodgers leadoff hitter Junior Gilliam.

Ninety-six pitches later, the New York Yankees' right-hander retires pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell on a called third strike to complete the only perfect game in World Series history.

This one – a 2-0 decision – comes before a Monday afternoon crowd of 64,519 in Game 5 of the 1956 Series, which the Yankees win in seven games.

Eight Hall of Famers – Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges of the Dodgers, and Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Enos Slaughter of the Yankees – play in Larsen's perfect game at Yankee Stadium.

As for Larsen, he lasts 14 seasons in the majors, finishing in 1967 with a most imperfect career record of 81-91.

“Sometimes a week might go by when I don’t think about that game,” Larsen says years later, “but I don’t remember when it happened last.”