David Wells Pitches a Perfect Game on Beanie Baby Day

On May 17, 1998, David Wells of the New York Yankees retired all 27 Minnesota Twins batters he faced for the 15th perfect game in modern major league history. The final score was 4-0 at Yankee Stadium, where 49,820 fans had turned out for what was officially Beanie Baby Day.

Wells threw 120 pitches, struck out 11, and never went to a three-ball count. He later admitted he had been out until 5:30 a.m. the night before and may have still been feeling the effects when he took the mound. Teammates recalled him looking bleary-eyed in the clubhouse before the game. None of it showed on the field. Wells painted the corners with his curveball and located his fastball with surgical precision from first pitch to last.

The perfect game was the first at Yankee Stadium since Don Larsen's legendary performance in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Wells, a devoted Larsen admirer who had purchased Larsen's game-worn cap at auction, drew the parallel himself. Both pitchers were stocky, hard-living left-handers who produced flawless games that seemed to defy their reputations. Larsen was in attendance and embraced Wells on the field after the final out.

Wells set an American League record by retiring 37 consecutive batters, dating back to his previous start. His catcher, Jorge Posada, called a steady game behind the plate and later said he never considered shaking off Wells's pitch selection.

The 1998 Yankees were in the middle of building what would become a 114-win regular season and a World Series championship. Wells's perfect game was the exclamation point on a rotation that already included David Cone, Andy Pettitte, and Orlando Hernandez. It was, fittingly, the flashiest moment from the flashiest pitcher on the roster.