Larsen dies; threw WS perfect game

Don Larsen, the journeyman pitcher who reached the heights of baseball glory in 1956 for the Yankees when he threw a perfect game and the only no-hitter in World Series history, died Wednesday night. He was 90.

Larsen's agent, Andrew Levy, said the former pitcher died of esophageal cancer in Hayden, Idaho.

In the 1956 World Series, won in seven games by the Yankees, Larsen was knocked out in the second inning of Game 2 by the Dodgers and didn't think he would have another opportunity to pitch. But when he reached Yankee Stadium on the morning of Oct. 8, he found a baseball in his shoe — the signal from manager Casey Stengel that he would start Game 5.

The Dodgers and Yankees split the first four games and Stengel liked the deception of Larsen's no-windup delivery. The lanky right-hander struck out seven, needed just 97 pitches to tame the Dodgers and only once went to three balls on a batter.

With two out in the ninth, pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell took a third strike, completing the perfect game and sending catcher Yogi Berra dashing out from behind the plate to leap into Larsen's arms. It remains one of baseball's most joyous images.

College football: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa said on Twitter he will announce on Monday whether he will enter the NFL draft or return to college for another season. Tagovailoa is recovering from seasonending hip surgery and has not played since being injured at Mississippi State on Nov. 16. He had surgery two days later. In 32 career games, Tagovailoa had thrown 87 TDs and 11 INTs . ... All-American CB Jeff Okudah of Ohio State declared for the NFL draft, ESPN reported.

Soccer: Mikel Arteta earned his first win as Arsenal manager with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United. Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored first-half goals to give the Gunners their first home win the Premier League in three months.