A look at the Yankees' perfect game history

Domingo German etched his name into New York Yankees history on Wednesday, pitching the fourth perfect game in franchise history. The feat gives the Yankees more perfect games than any other club, breaking a tie shared with the Chicago White Sox since 2012. 

Each of the four games was unique, both in the arms responsible and the context that brought them about. 

Don Larsen – October 8, 1956

The Brooklyn Dodgers won the 1955 World Series over the New York Yankees. The two teams matched up again a year later and were tied at two games apiece heading into Game 5 in the Bronx. Don Larsen had started Game 2 of the series but lasted just 1.2 IP, struggling with control while walking four batters. 

Things were different in Game 5, with Larsen controlling the tempo from the start. The Dodgers' closest effort to getting a player on base came in the second inning when Jackie Robinson hit a hard grounder that deflected off of third baseman Andy Carey’s glove directly to shortstop Gil McDougald, who threw Robinson out at first by a step. 

Larsen cruised through the rest of the game, striking out seven while completing the game on just 97 pitches. His feat remains the only perfect game in World Series history. 

David Wells – May 17, 1998

With the Yankees enjoying an early season hot streak and a Beanie Baby promotion taking place, a crowd of nearly 50,000 packed Yankee Stadium on a Sunday in mid-May. However, things were not necessarily all positive in New York, as Jay Jaffe revisited for Sports Illustrated in 2013. Wells had been pulled from a previous start early by manager Joe Torre, who suggested the burly right-hander was more “out of shape than usual” which prompted a discussion between the two that needed to be mediated by pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. 

That Sunday, however, Wells was simply dominant and no person in the building cared about his physique. Minnesota’s best chance to get on base came in the eighth inning when Ron Coomer grounded up the middle. Chuck Knoblauch, a former Twin himself, ranged over from second to make the play and threw Coomer out at first. 

It took him 120 pitches but Wells completed his perfect game with 11 strikeouts.

Wells, famously, admitted in his 2013 autobiography, "Perfect," that he was “half-drunk with a skull-raging hangover” while pitching his perfect game – a feat later matched by Dallas Braden in 2010. 

David Cone – July 18, 1999

Prior to a Sunday contest against the Montreal Expos, the Yankees took some time to honor longtime legend Yogi Berra. Don Larsen was in attendance, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to his former catcher. David Cone took the mound, completely unaware he was about to repeat a feat he’d watched his teammate achieve just 14 months prior. 

Cone was efficient all game, working quickly and pitching to contact. He struck out 10 and still completed the perfect game on just 88 pitches. Montreal’s best effort came in the eighth when Jose Vidro grounded sharply to the right side when once again Chuck Knoblauch made the play to get the out. 

Cone and Wells had nearly identical lineups behind them, with the only differences coming in left field (Ricky Ledee for Cone, Chad Curtis for Wells) and designated hitter (Chili Davis, Darryl Strawberry). 

Domingo German – June 28, 2023

Domingo German's tenure with the Yankees has seen plenty of ups and downs -- including an 18-win season, a major shoulder injury, and a substantial suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy -- and this season has been no different. Most concerning is how hard German has been hit in his most recent starts, allowing 17 runs in just 5.1 IP. It's not hyperbole to suggest his job in the Yankees rotation is in jeopardy.

Yet, on Wednesday night in Oakland against an MLB-worst A's lineup, German was perfect. He struck out nine and finished the game on 99 pitches. Then, in his postgame interview, German revealed his uncle had passed just a few days ago. He'd pitched the whole game with the emotions weighing on him heavily.

The performance -- the first perfect game by a Dominican-born pitcher in MLB history -- almost certainly will earn him another turn in the rotation.