Larsen, who went 7-12 in 1953 with the old St. Louis Browns, his first major league season, was 3-21 in '54 when the Browns moved to Baltimore. He was traded to the Yankees in '55 and in 1956 collected a 11-5 record, 3.26 ERA as a spot starter and reliever.

Casey Stengel decided Larsen "was my go to guy" and called on him to start Game 5. The 6'4", 225-pound, right-hander using the barest of windups, set down hitter after hitter. By the 6th-inning everyone in the crowd of 64,519 at Yankee Stadium knew what might happen, they just couldn't believe the perfect game would continue.

By the time the 8th-inning, Larsen's every pitch captured the attention and brought a roaring ovation said to be unequaled in Yankee Stadium history. In the top of the ninth, Larsen later told reporters, "I was so weak in the knees out there in the ninth inning, I thought I was going to faint. I was so nervous I almost fell down. My legs were rubbery and my fingers didn't feel like they were on my hand. I said to myself, 'Please help me out, somebody."

The ninth inning unfolded with Furillo flying out. Campanella grounded out to short. Then pandemonium set in - Dale Mitchell, the eight toughest man to strike out in baseball's long history, took a third called strike - Larsen had pitched a perfect game... no-hits, no-runs, no one reached base...and in the World Series!