Don Larsen, the famed Yankee right-hander who threw the only perfect game in postseason history, is preparing to auction off the uniform he wore during that timeless performance in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. The New York Times notes that the uniform worn by Larsen's catcher Yogi Berra fetched more than $500,000 at auction. One would assume Larsen's duds would command an even higher price.
So why is Larsen going to part with such a cherished personal artifact? "I’m auctioning the uniform to provide my grandsons with enough money for a college education," said Larsen, now 82. "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."
The 56-day online auction begins on Oct. 8, the 56th anniversary of Larsen's perfecto, and runs through Dec. 2. "The uniform never got dirty because I didn’t wear it very long," Larsen said. "It’s still in beautiful condition. I will miss it when it goes because I have a whole lifetime of memories wrapped up in it."
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