Don Larsen has decided to sell the uniform he wore when he tossed a perfect game for the New York Yankees on October 8, 1956 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game Five of the World Series.
Don Larsen is the only pitcher to throw a World Series perfect game, and the uniform should stir up a lot of interest from high-end memorabilia collectors. The jersey and pants worn by catcher Yogi Berra during the perfect game recently commanded $565,000 at auction. And a Babe Ruth jersey just sold for an incredible $4.4 million.
Larsen, 82, told the New York Times that he wants to set up a college tuition fund for his grandchildren:
I’m auctioning the uniform to provide my grandsons with enough money for a college education. 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 compiled a career 81-91 record over a 15-year MLB career with seven teams. He played on two World Series championship teams with the Yankees and was the 1956 World Series MVP and Babe Ruth award winner.
Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium on July 18, 1999, when David Cone threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos in an inter-league match up.
The uniform will be put up for online auction by Steiner Sports Marketing starting October 8 (the 56th anniversary of Larsen’s perfect game) through December 2.
Don Larsen added that….
I really don’t know what it is worth, 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.
He added that the uniform is in beautiful condition because he only wore it a few times. Don Larsen previously sold off other items from that historic day such as his cap, glove, shoes, and last-out baseball.