Today In History – The High And Low In Sports

From 1947 to 1962,  a span of 16 seasons, the New York Yankees appeared in thirteen world series, losing 3 and winning 10.  That is an amazing record of excellence with many memorable and record setting performances along the way.  Perhaps the greatest of them all happening on this day 62 years ago.

In 1956, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, as his New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in the fifth game of the Series. Larsen was known more for his partying skills than his pitching abilities so sportswriter Dick Young famously wrote, "The imperfect man just threw a perfect game."   That year was Larsen's best season in the majors, finishing with an 11 and 5 record.

 Another imperfect person had a memorable day in sports a half century later.  She was nearly perfect in the 2000 Olympics. Marion Jones had won gold in the 100 and 200 meters and the 1,600 relay, and bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump.  But on this day in 2007, after years of denials that she'd used steroids, disgraced American track and field star Marion Jones gave back the five medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.