title: "David Wells" slug: "david-wells" era: "Core Four Dynasty" position: "SP" throws: "Left" born: "1963-05-20" birthplace: "Torrance, CA" debut: "1987-06-30" retired: "2007-09-28"
There are roughly 37,000 high schools in America. Don Larsen attended Point Loma High School in San Diego. David Wells also attended Point Loma High School in San Diego. Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history. Wells threw a perfect game while still operating on four hours of sleep and whatever the night before had left in his system.
You can't make this up.
Attitude Annie's Kid
Wells grew up in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, raised by his mother Eugenia -- known in her circles as "Attitude Annie," a Hell's Angels associate who worked multiple jobs to keep the family above water. It's the kind of origin story that explains everything about why David Wells became David Wells: a big left-hander who played by his own rules, didn't apologize for it, and somehow kept winning anyway.
He grew up a Yankees fan. In San Diego. Because of Babe Ruth.
Ruth wasn't just a poster on the wall for Wells -- it was a genuine obsession that followed him into adulthood and eventually into his bank account. In 1997, his first season in pinstripes, Wells paid $35,000 for an authentic cap Ruth had worn in 1934. On June 28 of that year, he wore it to the mound at Yankee Stadium against Cleveland. Manager Joe Torre noticed during the first inning, ordered it removed, and hit Wells with a $2,500 fine.
Wells paid the fine. He kept the hat. (The math absolutely worked out in his favor.)
The Rotation, 1998
The Yankees didn't sign Wells because they needed personality. They signed him because the 1997-98 rotation needed arms, and Wells -- coming off stints in Toronto, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Baltimore -- was a legitimate top-of-rotation pitcher who could also eat innings and stay healthy. He went 16-10 in his first year. Nobody got excited.
Then came 1998.
Wells went 18-4 with a 3.49 ERA on the best Yankees team since 1927. He was third in AL Cy Young voting. He won ALCS MVP after going 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in the ALCS, striking out 18 Cleveland batters in 15⅔ innings. And on May 17 -- a Sunday matinee against Minnesota, a Beanie Baby promotion, a stadium full of people who had no idea what was coming -- he threw the 15th perfect game in baseball history.
Wells had barely slept. He'd made it home around 5 a.m. He had "bloodshot eyes, monster breath, and a raging, skull-rattling hangover" -- his words, from his 2003 autobiography. He threw 120 pitches across nine innings, struck out 11, and didn't allow a single baserunner.
(Don Larsen -- the other Point Loma High guy, who was at the time the only Yankee ever to throw a perfect game -- called that evening to tell Wells he'd think about it every day for the rest of his life. Just like Larsen had since 1956.)
The Trade That Backfired on Everyone
After the 1998 World Series, the Yankees decided they wanted Roger Clemens more than they wanted David Wells. The trade: Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd went to Toronto; Clemens came to New York.
Wells spent the next two seasons outpitching the guy they sent him to get. He went 17-10 in 1999 and 20-8 in 2000 -- the only 20-win season of his career -- while Clemens went 27-18 over those same two years in pinstripes. The irony didn't go unnoticed. (Clemens also got two rings with those Yankees teams, so it's not like the trade failed. But Wells outperforming him in Toronto is still a great fact to have in your pocket.) Wells was also an All-Star in 2000 while leading the American League in wins.
Clemens eventually got his rings. Wells eventually came back.
The Second Stint
The 2002 return happened in classic Wells fashion -- he'd already agreed to join the Arizona Diamondbacks when the Yankees came calling. He signed with New York anyway, reportedly to great annoyance in Phoenix, and went 19-7 as the Yankees won the AL East with 103 wins. He was 39 years old.
Wells stuck around through the 2007 season, finishing his career with the Dodgers at age 44. His last start was September 28, 2007 -- a win against San Francisco. He threw six innings, gave up two runs, and earned it. That was very on-brand.
| Career W-L | 239-157 |
| Career ERA | 4.13 |
| Strikeouts | 2,201 |
| WAR | 53.4 |
| Yankees W-L | 68-28 |
| Yankees ERA | 3.90 |
| Perfect Game | May 17, 1998 (15th in MLB history) |
| ALCS MVP | 1998 |
| World Series Rings | 2 (1992, 1998) |
| All-Star Selections | 3 (1995, 1998, 2000) |
Born in Torrance, CA
Wells grows up in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, attending the same high school -- Point Loma High -- as Don Larsen, who threw the only perfect game in World Series history for the 1956 Yankees.
First World Series Ring
Wells wins his first ring with the Toronto Blue Jays, who beat the Atlanta Braves in six games. He's 29 years old, working out of the bullpen -- four relief appearances in the World Series, none in the ALCS.
The Babe Ruth Cap Incident
Wells wears a $35,000 authentic 1934 Babe Ruth cap to the mound at Yankee Stadium. Torre makes him remove it after the first inning. Wells pays the $2,500 fine in singles and keeps the hat.
Perfect Game
Operating on roughly four hours of sleep after a party the night before, Wells retires all 27 Minnesota Twins batters in order at Yankee Stadium. Yankees win 4-0. Wells strikes out 11 and throws 120 pitches on Beanie Baby Day.
ALCS MVP, World Series Champion
Wells goes 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in the ALCS against Cleveland, striking out 18 batters in 15⅔ innings, and wins the series MVP. The Yankees win the World Series four games to zero against San Diego. Wells gets his second ring.
Traded for Roger Clemens
The Yankees send Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd to Toronto for Roger Clemens. Wells proceeds to outpitch Clemens over the next two seasons -- 37-15 to Clemens' 27-18 -- in the most politely embarrassing trade outcome in recent memory.
Returns to the Yankees
Wells signs with the Yankees for a second stint despite having reached an oral agreement with Arizona. He goes 19-7 as New York wins the AL East with 103 wins. He's 39.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did David Wells and Don Larsen really go to the same high school?
Yes. Both Wells and Larsen attended Point Loma High School in San Diego, California. Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956 for the Yankees. Wells threw the 15th perfect game in MLB history in 1998, also for the Yankees. There are approximately 37,000 high schools in America.
Was David Wells actually hungover when he threw his perfect game?
By his own account, yes. In his 2003 autobiography "Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball," Wells wrote that he'd been at a party the night before, made it home around 5 a.m., and arrived at the ballpark with "bloodshot eyes, monster breath, and a raging, skull-rattling hangover." He threw 120 pitches, struck out 11, and didn't allow a single baserunner. There's no good explanation for this.
Why did the Yankees trade David Wells after the 1998 World Series?
The Yankees sent Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd to Toronto to acquire Roger Clemens, who they'd been pursuing for years. It didn't backfire strategically -- Clemens was valuable in New York -- but Wells had the better two-year run after the trade, going 37-15 combined in 1999-2000 while Clemens went 27-18. Wells came back to the Yankees in 2002 and went 19-7. He ended up with two rings in pinstripes.
What was David Wells' career record with the Yankees?
In two stints (1997-1998 and 2002-2003), Wells went 68-28 with a 3.90 ERA across 851.2 innings. He threw his perfect game during the first stint and his second 19-win season during the second. His Yankees winning percentage of .708 is among the best in franchise history for starters with 75+ decisions.
Career Stats
Regular Season
| Year | G | GS | W | L | SV | IP | H | ER | K | BB | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 218.0 | 239 | 102 | 156 | 45 | 4.21 | 1.30 |
| 1998 | 30 | 30 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 214.1 | 195 | 83 | 163 | 29 | 3.49 | 1.05 |
| 2002 | 31 | 31 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 206.1 | 210 | 86 | 137 | 45 | 3.75 | 1.24 |
| 2003 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 213.0 | 242 | 98 | 101 | 20 | 4.14 | 1.23 |
| Career | 124 | 123 | 68 | 28 | 0 | 851.2 | 886 | 369 | 557 | 139 | 3.90 | 1.20 |
Career-best seasons highlighted in gold. Stats via Retrosheet.
Postseason
| Year | G | GS | W | L | SV | IP | H | ER | K | BB | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 | -- | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.00 | -- |
| 1998 | 4 | -- | 4 | 0 | 0 | 30.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.93 | -- |
| 2002 | 1 | -- | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 15.43 | -- |
| 2003 | 5 | -- | 2 | 1 | 0 | 23.1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.31 | -- |
| Career | 11 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 67.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |