Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Koufax is still blowing us away
The Washington Times ^ | September 6, 2009 | Dick Heller

Posted on 09/06/2009 12:03:02 PM PDT by EveningStar

"On the scoreboard in right field, it is 9:46 p.m. in the City of the Angels, Los Angeles, California. And a crowd of 29,139 [has seen] the only pitcher in baseball history to hurl four no-hit, no-run games. ... And now he caps it. On his fourth no-hitter, he made it a perfect game."

The date was Sept. 9, 1965, and it seemed appropriate that Vin Scully, the best baseball broadcaster since World War II, was telling the world that Sandy Koufax, the most dominant pitcher of that period, had achieved the ultimate...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: 1965; baseball; dodgers; koufax; losangeles; mlb; perfectgame; sandykoufax; vinscully
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last
Audio of Scully anouncing the 9th inning of Koufax's perfect game
1 posted on 09/06/2009 12:03:03 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

SoCal


2 posted on 09/06/2009 12:03:43 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

I vividly remember listening to Vinnie’s radio call, while standing in our darkened kitchen leaning over the radio. Biggest goosebumps ever!


3 posted on 09/06/2009 12:12:58 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God is, and (2) God is good?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

Compared to Nolan Ryan’s 7 no-hitters......not too close.


4 posted on 09/06/2009 12:14:21 PM PDT by San Jacinto (/i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

I saw Sandy pitch so many times and was there for his first no-hitter against the Mets. Remarkable is not a strong enough word for him. And he is a man of character.


5 posted on 09/06/2009 12:15:18 PM PDT by doug from upland (10+ million views of HILLARY! UNCENSORED - put some ice on it, witch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

True to his faith, Koufax did not pitch the opening game of a world series on a Jewish high holiday.


6 posted on 09/06/2009 12:18:24 PM PDT by doug from upland (10+ million views of HILLARY! UNCENSORED - put some ice on it, witch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: San Jacinto
From the article:

Nolan Ryan eventually pitched nearly twice as many no-hitters, won 324 games to Koufax's 165 and struck out 5,714 batters to Sandy's 2,396. But the rubber-armed Ryan lasted for 27 seasons and 5,386 innings. Koufax, a notably erratic spot starter in his early years with the Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers, pitched in the big leagues for just 12 seasons and 2,324 1/3 innings.

7 posted on 09/06/2009 12:25:01 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: San Jacinto
Both are two of the best,...the article commemorates Koufax's 4th no-hitter.

I'm certain that Ryan would give Sandy his props, as well. In fact, I'd bet he has.




8 posted on 09/06/2009 12:36:16 PM PDT by incredulous joe ("Live Free or Fight")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: San Jacinto

“Compared to Nolan Ryan’s 7 no-hitters...... not too close.”

Nolan Ryan’s lifetime W-L record was 324-292. For some reason Ryan frequently pitched just well enough to lose.

Ryan belongs in the Hall of Fame, but in my opinion he did not merit his first-ballot 98.8% vote. Sports are primarily about winning, and while Ryan was often a spectacular pitcher, overall he was only marginally a winner.

After pitching a complete-game shutout in game 5 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins, Sandy Koufax, pitching on two days rest, threw a 3-hit complete-game shutout in game 7. At his peak, Sandy was possibly the most valuable player in the history of baseball. The year after he retired, the Dodgers finished seventh; the year before it had been first.

“We need just two players to be a contender. Just Babe Ruth and Sandy Koufax.” Whitey Herzog


9 posted on 09/06/2009 12:57:49 PM PDT by devere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: San Jacinto
Compared to Nolan Ryan’s 7 no-hitters......not too close.

Compared to Sandy Koufax's perfect game...not too close
10 posted on 09/06/2009 1:40:01 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland; San Jacinto; Artemis Webb; ken5050
I've been following baseball for close to 50 years, and I've never seen a better pitcher than Sandy Koufax. The combination of his fastball and curveball made him just unhittable. I remember games at Wrigley Field when Koufax pitched, and not only would it boost attendance, people would come down by the Dodgers' bullpen just to watch him warm up.

I saw Ryan pitch, too, but he was not as good as Koufax. Over the last 50 years, I'd put Koufax, Carlton, Gibson, and Seaver ahead of Ryan.

11 posted on 09/06/2009 2:09:16 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson (The wag tailoring the doggerel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Charles Henrickson
I saw Ryan pitch, too, but he was not as good as Koufax. Over the last 50 years, I'd put Koufax, Carlton, Gibson, and Seaver ahead of Ryan.

I've been following baseball for over 50 years and who can say for sure which was the best behind Koufax which I'll agree was the best. I saw Ryan pitch as an Angel, and as an Astro and numerous times as a Ranger. Putting him behind Carlton, Gibson and Seaver...no way. The ultimate is the no-hitter....which really levels the playing field so to speak and Ryan is far ahead in that measure...as well as total wins.

12 posted on 09/06/2009 2:21:21 PM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver ("To be born into freedom is an accident; to die in freedom is an obligation..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Charles Henrickson

Here’s my test, Charles. If you pick one pitcher in his prime to win a ballgame for you, who is it? Once Koufax got control, he was an almost unhittable machine.


13 posted on 09/06/2009 2:36:14 PM PDT by doug from upland (10+ million views of HILLARY! UNCENSORED - put some ice on it, witch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar; GOPsterinMA; IndyTiger; henkster; JerseyJohn61; TennTuxedo; Mr_Moonlight; BatGuano; ...
BASEBALL PING LIST

If you would like to be on the ping list let me know.

This will be a medium volume ping list during the baseball season and a low volume ping list when all life stops in late October.

14 posted on 09/06/2009 2:42:29 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BluesDuke

This thread is calling for your expertise darling!

Are you going to be broadcasting tomorrow night, or are you taking the holiday? ;D


15 posted on 09/06/2009 2:44:09 PM PDT by Daffynition (A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: devere

Re Nolan Ryan. If a guy can pitch 7 no-hitters, he doesn’t have to do anything else. He can shoot an umpire and still go into the hall.


16 posted on 09/06/2009 2:45:43 PM PDT by nufsed (Release the birth certificate, passport, and school records.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

I rember Scvully describing Koufaz’s curve as rooling off the table. When I went to a game, I could swear his curve started above the batter’s head and wound up in the catcher’s mitt just below the knees.


17 posted on 09/06/2009 2:47:48 PM PDT by nufsed (Release the birth certificate, passport, and school records.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Charles Henrickson; RVN Airplane Driver; doug from upland
"I'd put Koufax, Carlton, Gibson, and Seaver ahead of Ryan."

Greg Maddux fits in here somewhere. I'm just not sure where as he was from a totally different mold than the rest of the group. Still 355 career wins and 18 gold gloves speaks for itself.

18 posted on 09/06/2009 2:49:09 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: BluesDuke

Sorry, I meant Monday night. I shouldn’t be wishing this long weekend away so fast!


19 posted on 09/06/2009 2:50:32 PM PDT by Daffynition (A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: devere

Nolan Ryan spent a lot of time on some pretty bad teams...

hh


20 posted on 09/06/2009 2:59:13 PM PDT by hoosier hick (Note to RINOs: We need a choice, not an echo....Barry Goldwater)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson