David Cone's perfect game

Background

Cone denied chance at a no hitter

Four years earlier, Cone was taken out of the game while pitching a no-hitter. At the time, he was recovering from an injury and the manager limited him to 100 pitches. He was taken out after the 7th inning. (The relief blew the no-hitter.) This "missed chance" at greatness hung over Cone until his perfect game.

Yogi Berra Day

The Yankees' third perfect game was witnessed by the battery that executed its first perfect game. Before the game began, Don Larsen, who pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi Berra, who caught that game. It was Yogi Berra Day at the stadium, as he had recently reconciled with owner George Steinbrenner.

Game synopsis

Cone never worked a count more unfavorable to the pitcher than 2–0. A 33-minute rain delay interrupted the game in the third inning. The Yankees scored most of their runs in the second inning. Chili Davis walked, then Ricky Ledée hit a two-run home run into the upper right field deck. Scott Brosius was hit by a pitch, then scored on a double by Joe Girardi. Girardi was tagged out between second and third trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Chuck Knoblauch worked a walk and then Derek Jeter hit a home run to make it 5–0. In the eighth inning, O'Neill led off with a double to right and scored on a single to center by Bernie Williams. In the third inning, Cone recorded three strikeouts. In the eighth inning Knoblauch, whose defense had significantly deteriorated since the 1997 season, made a good defensive play when Jose Vidro hit a ball hard between first and second. Knoblauch moved quickly to his left, fielded it cleanly, and made a strong throw to first, retiring Vidro and preserving the perfect game.

9th inning

Cone struck out Chris Widger swinging to start the ninth. Ryan McGuire pinch hit for Shane Andrews and hit a soft fly ball to left field. Ricky Ledée seemed to momentarily lose the ball in the sun, but made the play, and would say afterward he was not sure how he did so. The last batter, Orlando Cabrera, popped up to third baseman Scott Brosius in foul territory to end the game. Immediately afterwards, Cone fell on his knees and into the arms of his catcher Girardi. Cone's teammates then lifted him off the field. When Cone returned to his locker, Berra and Larsen were waiting for him, and together embraced him.

Box score

;July 18, Yankee Stadium, New York, New York

FIELDING

• DP: Vidro-Cabrera-Fullmer.
• Outfield assists: Jones, T (Girardi at 3rd base).

BATTING

• 2B: Girardi (9, Vasquez); O'Neill (20, Vasquez).
• HR: Ledee (3, off Vasquez, 2nd inning, 1 on, 1 out); Jeter (16, off Vasquez, 2nd inning, 1 on, 2 out).
• TB: Jeter 4; Ledee 4; O'Neill 2; Girardi 2; Knoblauch; T. Martínez; Williams, B; Davis, C.
• RBI: Jeter 2 (64); Ledee 2 (13); Girardi (10); Williams, B (55).
• GIDP: Davis, C.
• Team RISP: 1-for-4.
• Team LOB: 4.

Other info

• HBP: Brosius, Knoblauch by Vazquez
• Pitches–strikes: Vazquez 118–76, Ayala 14–8, Cone 88–68
• Groundouts–flyouts: Vazquez 11–13, Ayala 3–0, Cone 4–13
• Batters faced: Vazquez 31, Ayala 3, Cone 27
• Umpires: HP: Ted Barrett; 1B: Larry McCoy; 2B: Jim Evans; 3B: Chuck Meriwether
• Weather: 95 F, mostly sunny
• Time of first pitch: 2:05PM ET
• Time: 2:49
• Attendance: 41,930
• Venue: Yankee Stadium

Yankee defense

Cone had nearly the same Yankee lineup behind him for his perfect game as David Wells did. The only exceptions were that Cone had Ledee as his left fielder and Davis as his designated hitter, while Wells was backed by Chad Curtis and Darryl Strawberry respectively. In addition, Jorge Posada, who had caught Wells' perfect game, was on the bench for Cone's perfect game.

Aftermath

After his perfect game, Cone seemed to decline rapidly. He never threw another shutout in his career. In 2000, he posted a career-worst 4–14 record with a 6.91 ERA. In the 2000 World Series, he faced one batter, Mike Piazza in Game 4. It was a key at-bat, though; the Mets had two runners on, and were threatening to take the lead. Yankees' manager Joe Torre unconventionally lifted starter Denny Neagle after just innings and went to Cone, who induced a Mike Piazza pop-up to end the fifth inning.

References

References

1. (July 1, 2011). "'FOR BASEBALL JUNKIES- Where baseball fans of all ages come to discuss the biggest stories in baseball and the history of America's pastime. Trivia, Opinion, Top 10 Lists, Fantasy and more.'". Baseballjunkies.blogspot.com.
2. "September 2, 1996: David Cone returns to Yankees after aneurysm surgery, pitches seven no-hit innings".
3. (July 18, 1999). "David Cone Perfect Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com.
4. "Don Mattingly At Yogi Berra Day July 18, 1999". Donniebaseball.com.
5. "Baseball's Best | MLB.com: Programming". Mlb.mlb.com.
6. "Wild Pitcher - Nymag".
7. "Montreal Expos at New York Yankees Box Score, July 18, 1999".
8. (November 19, 2000). "Ruminations – November 19, 2000". NetShrine.
9. (September 16, 2011). "Classic Yankees: David Cone". Bronx Baseball Daily.