Koufax was as good a pitcher as I’ve ever seen pitch, and I’ve seen ‘em all over the past 50 years. When the Dodgers came to Chicago, and Koufax was scheduled to pitch, it was an event! Lots of folks would come just to see him pitch.
I know the feeling. I never got to see Koufax pitch in person but did watch many times on TV. I did however get to see Satchel Paige pitch in person when he came to the Miami Marlins AAA team back in the '50s. I will never forget his "hesitation" pitch. That of course is now illegal but it was a thing to behold. He could even at his advanced age at that time still surprise the hitter with a pretty good fast ball... when he felt like it. That was not often. :-) Those were the days for sure, never to return I fear.
Was it ever!
I went to see him square off with Atlanta's left-hander, Denny Lemaster (who only had two remarkable games....both against Koufax. Lost there, won here.)
I had to Google to make sure I got my facts right as I remembered them... and I am happy to say I did get it (mostly) right. It was a baseball lover's dream and.... if you were a Braves fan.... Heaven.
Both threw masterpieces (Koufax, - 3 hitter, Lemaster - 2 hitter) won by the Braves on a walk-off homer in the ninthth by my favorite player.... Eddie Matthews. Final 2-1.
Sold out....all due to Sandy.
Koufax had an amazing 5 year run..but his earlier years were so-so at best...I think the best pitcher I ever saw ( over 55 years watching baseball) for a career was Bob Gibson. Had he played on either coast..in a major media market..he’d be a god today.
It doesn’t show in the pictures, becuased the uniforms of the day were loose fitting, but Koufax had huge upper body musculature..that’s where he got the armstrength for hius velocity..also, he had very long fingers....gave him a grip that caused that wicked curveball..