Perfect

July 27, 2009
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.

December 10, 2009
New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen became an unlikely hero on October 8, 1956, as he threw the first-and only-perfect game in World Series history. Larsen's name became legend that day but, as Paper (Empire: William S. Paley and the Making of CBS), who is an attorney, points out, the completion of a perfect game depends not only on the pitcher but on every player on the field and the umpires as well. Paper traces the path of everyone involved with the Dodgers and the Yankees on that October afternoon, and there are giants among them: Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and others whose stories are also well known. With so much established information at hand, it is crucial for a writer to be able to create a sense of anticipation; in this case the author skillfully manages to build a suspenseful scenario-even though we all know how the game turns out. Verdict Like Michael Coffey's 27 Men Out: Baseball's Perfect Games, this is an in-depth examination of a small miracle, perfect for readers who relish the rich history of the game.-Susanne Wells, P.L. of Cincinnati & Hamilton Cty., OH

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Yankee pitcher Don Larsens perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series stands as one of the singular achievements in sports. One reason is the statistical rarity of a perfect game: 17 in major-league history (more than 2,400 games are played each season). But reading Papers account of Larsens feat, its also the realization that the Yankees faced a pretty good Dodger team, which included future Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Pee Wee Reese. Paper details the historic game, half-inning by half-inning, diverging from the narrative to profile principal players. Some of the material is familiar, but given the context and Papers more than competent storytelling, it all works just fine. Pair this with Philip Hooses Perfect, Once Removed (2006), a more personal take on the legendary game (Larsen is the authors cousin), and with James Buckleys Perfect (2002), which recaps all the perfect games in baseball history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)