Larsen Recalls His Gem but Not as Well as Fans Do

Forty years ago today, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, retiring all 27 batters in the New York Yankees’ 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

“I’ve often asked myself, ‘Why me?’ ” Larsen, 67 and living in Idaho, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But I guess the old man upstairs must have figured that everyone is entitled to one good day.

“People come up to me and say they remember exactly what they were doing that day, and some can recall every pitch, every play. It’s strange, but it seems more real to them than it does to me.”

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Trivia time: Which pitcher holds the record for most games won and lost in the World Series?

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Tough town: Nina Fisher, girlfriend of Baltimore Oriole pitcher David Wells, got into a cab at Cleveland’s Hopkins Airport, heading to Game 3 of the American League division series at Jacobs Field last Friday.

“Where ya from?” the cabbie asked.

“Baltimore,” Fisher said.

“You’re one of those Oriole wives,” the cabbie said.

“I’m David Wells’ girlfriend,” Fisher said.

“Get out,” the cabbie said. “You’re not riding in my cab.”

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Last laugh: During a recent loss to the Detroit Lions in the Silverdome, Chicago Bear defensive tackle Alonzo Spellman tried to pull a heckler out of the stands.

“Not only could Spellman not do it, he couldn’t even spill the guy’s drink,” wrote Bernie Lincicome of the Chicago Tribune. “That’s futility.”

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Celebrity send-off: The Macon Whoopee minor league hockey team will play its first game Thursday night in Macon, Ga., with support from its No. 1 fan--Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldberg agreed to sign three pucks that will be used in a game against Nashville. She’ll get back the first puck used, autographed by all the players.

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Bad omen: Phil Collier in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Jim Leyland had a hint of what 1996 might bring when the national anthem was being played before the Pirates’ season opener.

“One of his players turned to him and said, ‘Every time I hear that song, I have a bad game.’ ”

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Old folks’ home: Mike Lupica in the New York Daily News: “Before the [Chicago] Bulls signed Robert Parish--age 73--I believe they were also considering Nate Thurmond.”

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Good old days: The San Francisco Giants lost 11 players with season-ending injuries. Asked his most memorable moment of the season, Barry Bonds said, “Opening day. Everyone was still there.”

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Trivia answer: Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees, with a 10-8 record.

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And finally: Atlanta Hawks’ media director Arthur Triche says he has never seen one team with so many interesting names: Dikembe Mutombo, Ivano Newbill, Horacio Llamas, Eldridge Recasner, Christian Laettner and Zarko Paspalj.