Definitions:
Perfect Game - In baseball, a perfect game is a game in which one or more pitchers complete a minimum of nine innings with no batter from the opposing team reaching any base. To achieve a perfect game, a pitcher must not allow any opposing player to reach base by any means: no hits, walks, hit batsmen, uncaught third strikes, catcher's or fielder's interference, or fielding errors which allow a batter to reach base.
A perfect game, by definition, is also a no-hitter, and is also guaranteed to result in a win and a shutout if the game does not go into extra innings.
Don Larsen McConnell, 25 years old, was woken up on the most important day of his life by a call from his 45 year old mother.
His parents always called him by his first and middle name.
He was the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Today was game 7 of The World Series and he was chosen to be the starting pitcher.
His mother had flown in as this final game was to be played at the opposing team’s stadium. She attended every game in which her son was scheduled to start.
When he picked up the phone, she asked him to stop at her hotel before he went to the stadium.
Don Larsen McConnell, named after his father’s favorite New York Yankee pitcher, was a baseball star, a pitcher also.
From the first time he held a baseball, he never wanted to play any other position.
He received a full scholarship, which included tuition, room and board and a monthly stipend for incidentals, from Penn State. He always wanted to be a Nittany Lion.
He had been on all the college scouts’ radars since the age of 12.
Out of the dozens of schools he got offers from, he picked Penn State because of their Philosophy program. He planned to eventually get his law degree.
His father, Mickey Mantle McConnell, would always say: "Don Larsen, to be a great man and a leader you have to learn to think like a philosopher."
As his limo drove him to his mother’s hotel, his mind brought him back to the day he received his Penn State acceptance letter. A few days later his family’s world would be shaken to its core with the news that his father had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
That was seven years ago. He didn't miss his father. The word miss was not a strong enough word. He felt what people call a void left from his father’s premature passing at age 37.
Tears welled up and a lump formed in his throat as the limo driver took him silently to his destination.
Don Larsen thought, as tears flowed down his cheeks and over his mouth:
“Dad, I could use you today more than ever. I need your right hand on my left shoulder, calming me as you did before all of my games as we both stood in the dugout looking out on whatever field I was about to play on.
I know I have the best coaches fine tuning me, but I don’t trust them as much as you. How am I supposed to pitch in the last game of The World Series without your advice?”
The limo pulled up to his mother’s hotel entrance and he went upstairs.
She greeted him as she always did since he was a child.
First, with a very long silent hug and then she held his shoulders and stood in front of him for a moment, staring proudly and lovingly into his eyes.
Then, as always, she grabbed his face with both hands and said:
“God, you are a handsome boy! Thank God you took after my side of the family and not your father’s! Never forget how much your momma loves you. And I know you are a fancy superstar now, but remember who changed your diapers and rocked you at night when you were too scared to sleep in your bed!”
Don Larsen said: “Of course Mom. You are the best.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and she could tell he was troubled. She sat next to him and held his right hand in her left. She turned on the TV and there, on the screen, was a still image of his father.
It looked like it was taken just before he had gotten sick.
But there was more. That still image was really a paused video.
Don Larsen’s Mom: “Your Dad made this for you. He knew he was going to get sick very quickly, and so he wanted you to see him healthy and happy. All he told me was that there will come a day when his boy will need his father’s voice and reassurance, even though he will long since have passed. He made me promise to never watch it until it was time for you to see it.”
She hit the play button on her phone and his father’s still image came to life on the screen hanging on the wall.
Don Larsen McConnell’s Dad, Mickey Mantle McConnell, with teary eyes speaks:
“Don Larsen, my perfect son. I am so sorry I had to leave you just as you were starting to grow into the great man I know you are today. If you are watching this video, that means your mother decided it was time. I told her to wait and that there would be many times she would want to show it to you, but she would know when the time was right.
I know your mother is sitting with you holding your hand and she probably just gave you that long hug and still tried to brainwash you that her side of the family was more attractive than mine. Don’t believe it! Some of my family are cute from certain angles!.
Look!”
Don Larsen’s Dad turns to his right to show his profile.
Both Don Larsen and his mother are sobbing, and laughing at the same time.
Don Larsen’s Dad continues: “And I rocked you just as much as her when you were too scared to sleep and changed plenty of diapers!
But back to the reason for this video.
My son, I think today must be the most important day of your baseball career. I predict that it is game 7 of the World Series and you are going to start. You are nervous. All experts, professionals and even philosophers get nervous, that keeps them humble and focussed.
I am looking down on you and your mother as I do everyday. You got this. I am also sure you worry that your coaches are not as good as I am. You are right! I am the best coach you ever had!”
All three of them laugh together as if he was in the room with them.
Don Larsen’s Dad continues: “As I told you the day I passed, our time apart will be very brief. Take care of your mother for me and make sure she only remarries if she finds someone she loves more than she loved me. But that’s not possible, right Helen?”
And he gives them both a wink. More laughter erupts and more tears flow.
Don Larsen’s Dad continues: “I will make sure your namesake is watching the game with me today. You can’t lose, son! I am sure he has already told me in private you are a better pitcher than he ever was!
Love you both!”
The video ended.
Helen McConnell never remarried. Her love for Mickey Mantle McConnell could never be eclipsed.
Don Larsen McConnell threw a perfect game with no need for a relief pitcher.
He felt his father's right hand on his left shoulder the entire time.
It was the first World Series perfect game since the original Don Larsen threw one for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8, 1956.
Author's Note: True Historical Record (Non-Fiction part of the story) below
Click the link below to watch and listen to legendary announcer Vin Scully call the game winning pitch on October 8, 1956. Yogi Berra’s bear hug is infamous. He is the catcher, #8.
Vin Scully calls Larsen's perfect game
(Picture Below) New York Yankee's pitcher Don Larsen delivers a third-strike pitch to dodger pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell for the final out in the first perfect game in World Series history here. Second baseman Billy Martin stands in front of the scoreboard which tells the story. The Yankees won, 2-0.
(Picture Below) Pitcher Don Larsen (r), of the New York Yankees, wraps his arms around catcher Yogi Berra #8 after the final pitch of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in New York. Larsen pitched the first perfect game in World Series history as the Yankees defeated Sal Maglie and the Dodgers, 2-0.
Brought tears to my eyes, I was 15 years old, skipped school to listen to the game, heard every inning, ohhh what memories! Great Story!!