As lawyer and author Paper (John F. Kennedy: The Promise and the Performance
) points out in this engaging history, by looking at his numbers (81-91 won/loss record over 14 transient seasons), Yankee Don Larsen was no great pitcher by any means, known more for his late-night antics than his pitching prowess. Nonetheless, Larsen had a knack for coming through in high-pressure situations, as he did on October 8, 1956, in immortal fashion, retiring 27 consecutive Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, the only no-hitter (and perfect game) in postseason history. Paper doesn't focus on the day's events in great detail; rather, he provides minibiographies of the 19 players who participated, ranging from legends like Jackie Robinson and Mickey Mantle to almost forgotten veterans like gentlemanly Joe Collins and ace hitter Dale Mitchell, who loathed being remembered as Larsen's final out. Paper writes each profile with a fan's passion. It's to his credit that chapters on oft-covered icons such as Robinson, Mantle and Berra are all compelling as well. A must-read for baseball fans, this book is a terrific tribute to when baseball really was the national pastime. (Sept.)
