Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
"Just 14 months ago New York Yankee fans witnessed the second perfect game in New York Yankee history when David Wells pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins on May 17, 1998," said Mayor Giuliani. "This past Sunday nearly 42,000 fans witnessed another David achieve perfection, when David Cone threw the third perfect game in Yankee history. On a day that began with 1956 World Series perfect game legend Don Larsen throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi Berra, David Cone matched Larsen's perfection 88 pitches later.
"In the 6-0 Yankee victory, David became the 14th pitcher in modern major-league history to pitch a perfect game. Cone thrilled fans by throwing 68 strikes and striking out 10 batters and tossing a lethal assortment of pitches baffling the Expos. As with David Wells' perfect game last year, second baseman Chuck Knoblauch came through with a key defensive play in the eighth inning to help secure Cone's perfect game. David Cone's perseverance and determination gives Yankee fans another moment to cherish and adds another extraordinary chapter to the history of the Yankees. On behalf of New York City, home of the world's greatest baseball fans, it's an honor to present David with the Key to the City for his perfect performance and to declare July 20th David Cone Day in New York City," the Mayor concluded.
The Key to the City honors distinguished persons, honored guests and outstanding civic contributions to New York City. The presentation of a Key to the City can be traced back to medieval times, when cities were enclosed by walls and locked gates. By the middle of the 1800's, it became customary to give a Key to the City as a direct symbol of the City's wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will.