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Don Larsen was an unlikely Yankees legend

This was 10 years ago, and the voice on the other end of the telephone sounded gruff and weary. As many often do when a stranger calls, he asked, “How did you get this number?”

That’s always a tricky one to answer. You never know if you’re spoiling a confidence. But before I could worry about that, the voice softened and strengthened and a loud laugh landscaped by so many New York nights out of the past took over.

“I’m kidding. I’m glad you called,” Don Larsen said. “I was 81-91 as a major league pitcher. If that’s all people knew about me, nobody would ever call.