Early Life
Larsen was born in Michigan City, Indiana. Larsen's family moved to San Diego, California in 1944, where his mother became a housekeeper and his father worked as a department store salesman.
Larsen attended Point Loma High School where he was a member of the basketball and baseball team. He was selected for the All-Metro Conference team as a basketball player, and was offered several college scholarships to play basketball.
In baseball, Larsen's ability for the local American Legion team caught the attention of St. Louis Browns scout Art Schwartz. Schwartz signed Larson to a contract to play for one of the Browns minor league teams in 1947, with Larsen receiving a $850 signing bonus ($8,847 in current dollar terms). Larsen, on why he signed with the Browns over attending college, later said that he was "never much with the studies".
Read more about this topic: Don Larsen
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or life:
“Foolish prater, What dost thou
So early at my window do?
Cruel bird, thou’st ta’en away
A dream out of my arms to-day;
A dream that ne’er must equall’d be
By all that waking eyes may see.
Thou this damage to repair
Nothing half so sweet and fair,
Nothing half so good, canst bring,
Tho’ men say thou bring’st the Spring.”
—Abraham Cowley (1618–1667)
“Those who prepared for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy.”
—E.M. (Edward Morgan)