5/17/98: David Wells’ Perfect Game

Minnesota Twins 0 at New York Yankees 4, F — The season, up to this point, had not been an easy one for David Wells. Being yanked from his previous start in the third inning, despite a 9-0 Yankee lead, had Boomer openly contemplating retirement. Not an irrational thought for someone two weeks shy of his 35th birthday. But he didn’t, of course, and on May 17 dragged his 5.23 ERA out to the Yankee Stadium mound to face the Minnesota Twins. 27 batters later, as Paul O’Neill squeezed the last out in right field, Boomer would drop to his knees, elated and overwhelmed… a member of baseball’s immortal pantheon.