Boomer Birthday Bash

Today my sister and I celebrate our birthdays. We are not twins, but were born on the exact same day, two years apart. We both have plenty to celebrate on May 17th. The real Twins did not, this day eleven years ago at Yankee Stadium. That was the day David Wells pitched a perfect game against Minnesota. Now, I am personally connected to the pitcher forever. Ironically, the Yankees are hosting the Twins in the third game of a four game series today. It’s time for a trip down memory lane for one of my more unforgettable birthdays from 1998. It was a magical season for Wells and for the Yankees. I was tickled the moment I realized a Yankee fireballer tossed a faultless game on my birthday.
David Wells was far from being a Yankee legend. He attended the same high school as Don Larsen at Point Loma High in San Diego. Larsen pitched the only other Bomber perfect game in 1956 against the Dodgers in the World Series up until that time. The steady stopper threw a blistering fastball and dancing curveball, but the baseball world did not consider him the type of pitcher to present perfection. On the surface, Boomer appeared to be an overweight, outspoken and rebellious nuisance. In actuality, Wells was very coordinated and fielded his position about as well as a pitcher of his stature. David totally grasped the concept of pitching for the New York Yankees. He lapped up the fan backlash and answered with his left-handed arm. Wells was earnest when he played ball and I still consider him the most clutch pitcher I’ve seen. David was 4-0 in the post-season for New York in 1998 and the team was 25-5 in games he started. I never saw Sandy Koufax but I was there to marvel at Nolan Ryan during the last years of his Hall-of-Fame career. Ryan threw some wicked pitches, but Boomer was a hurler worth heeding because of the way his ball heaped as it crossed the plate. He made hitters hack helplessly. His rubber arm and gutsy gusto for the game was gratifying.
Wells’ total pitch count resulted in 79 strikes and 41 balls on his way to making history in 1998. Opposing pitcher, LaTroy Hawkins, went seven innings for the Twins. Wells struck out 11 and Hawkins 5. Boomer went to a three-balls count on only four batter. The greatest aspect of his game was his astonishing tendency to throw strikes and walk very few hitters. Wells had concise control that day, with beautifully spiraling curves and fastballs resembling arrows released from a bow. He was un-hittable in retiring the minimum 27 batters he faced. There weren’t any acrobatic plays in the field for the Yankees. None were needed because Wells was firing and fanning Twins the entire game. The closest Boomer came to allowing a base runner was a fourth inning 3-0 count to Minnesota’s Matt Lawton. The leadoff man for the Twins was ahead in the count but Wells came back to get him out. Another scare came in the top of the eighth when first baseman, Ron Coomer, smashed a ground ball to Chuck Knoblauch. The ball almost eluded Knoblauch’s glove but the second baseman recovered in the nick of time to get the out easily at first.
Bernie Williams got things rolling for New York with three hits. He had a solo homerun and scored three of the Yankees’ four runs. Wells was in total command on the hill, but he looked nervous in the dugout sitting beside David Cone. Cone must have been a calming influence for the Boomer, who stretched his back between innings. Wells was behind in the count to eight of the last nine batters he faced. He persevered through the Twins’ order, which included future Hall-of-famer and Minnesota icon, Paul Molitor.
I have a lasting image of Wells being carried off the field by his teammates in front of the crowd of 49,000 plus at the stadium. He looked on top of the world as he raised his blue cap to the sky from his gaunt shoulders in triumph. The burly lefty made quick work of the opposition in the ninth. Jon Shave, a rookie third baseman, flied out to right field on a routine play for the veteran, Paul O’Neill. Catcher, Javier Valentin, was no challenge. He went down on three strikes from Wells’ wired wrist. Then, Pat Mears stepped to the plate as the Twins’ last hope of breaking the no hitter. Boomer took a deep breath and delivered a pitch to the shortstop. Mears stroked a fly ball that landed safely in the glove of O’Neill to secure the final out and perfect game. The game also helped Wells establish an American League record. He put down 38 straight batters over three starts that season. Wells finished third in CY Young votes and led the league in fewest walks. The Yankee lefty strode off the mound smiling as if he were celebrating his own birthday. Inside, I was smiling too.

Parting points: “Well, I guess this is growing up” -Blink 182

“Must be a twin thing”- Brandon Walsh, 90210

Happy 28th birthday to my older sister Tori, who is never too old to be my accent of acumen. She also might just be the only other person in the world who considers “Ice, ice baby” and “Gangster’s Paradise” quality rap songs.