Today we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of, arguably, the most perfectly timed perfect game in MLB history.
On July 18, 1999, the New York Yankees held Yogi Berra Day. As part of the pre-game festivities, the fans were treated to former Yankee Don Larsen throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Berra – reuniting the battery for the most famous (and only World Series) perfect game ever pitched (October 8, 1956). The 41,390 fans in attendance had no idea of the treat that was yet to come.
Don Larsen’s perfect game came in the fifth game of the World Series and against the rival Brooklyn Dodgers. Larsen fanned seven in his perfecto, throwing a total of 97 pitches (71 strikes). Larsen only went to a three-ball count on one batter (Pee Wee Reese in the first inning) and the longest at bat (seven pitches) was delivered by opposing pitcher Sal Maglie (strike-strike-ball-foul-foul-ball-strike out). Larsen had gone 11-5, 3.26 for the Yankees that season and was just two seasons removed from leading the AL in losses (3-21 for the Orioles in 1954).
Taking the mound for the Yankees after Larsen’s ceremonial first pitch was right-hander David Cone, who came into the contest with a 9-4 record and a 2.86 ERA. Opposing Cone was the Montreal Expos’ Javier Vazquez (2-4, 6.63).
Photo by gomarky 
The game started out routinely enough. The Expos went down in order in the top of the first inning (strikeout, fly out, fly out). The Yankees went scoreless in the bottom of the inning (lead off hitter Chuck Knoblauch hit by pitch, followed by a fly out and two infield ground outs). The Expos went quietly again in the second (strikeout, ground out, ground out), but the Yankees exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning – a frame which included home runs by LF Rickey Ledee and SS Derek Jeter. After that it was clearly “game on” for Cone, as he struck out the side (in order) on 12 pitches in the top of the third.
The rest, as they say, is history. The Yankees won 6-0 and Cone pitched a perfect game (still the only one in an inter-league contest) – on the day when Don Larsen (who tossed the only World Series perfecto) tossed out the first pitch. Cone used just 88 pitches to record his 27 outs, throwing 68 for strikes (he fanned ten Expos). Cone’s 88 pitches are the second-fewest ever in a perfect game (Addie Joss had a 74-pitch perfect outing in 1908.)
BBRT note: Cone’s perfecto almost didn’t make it into the books – the game was delayed for 33 minutes by rain in the bottom of the third inning.
Cone ended the 1999 season – the 36-year-old’s 14th MLB campaign – 12-9, with a 3.44 ERA. His career stats were 194-126, 3.46, with 2,668 strikeouts in 2,898 2/3 innings pitched. In his career, he was a two-time 20-game winner, won the 1994 Cy Young Award (while with the Royals), led his league in wins once, winning percentage once and strikeouts twice. In 1992, he led MLB in strikeouts with 261, without leading either league (214 for the Mets, 47 for the Blue Jays). Cone was a five-time All Star.
Clearly, in 1999, he picked a “perfect” day to put it all together – with Berra and Larsen “in the building.”
Remember, I said this was arguably the most perfectly timed perfect game? I would accept one other nomination: Larsen’s World Series perfect outing. It was, after all, on MLB’s biggest stage.
Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.com
BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. To see the full list, click here.
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
