I'm certain that Ryan would give Sandy his props, as well. In fact, I'd bet he has.
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 ...
SoCal
I vividly remember listening to Vinnie’s radio call, while standing in our darkened kitchen leaning over the radio. Biggest goosebumps ever!
Compared to Nolan Ryan’s 7 no-hitters......not too close.
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.
True to his faith, Koufax did not pitch the opening game of a world series on a Jewish high holiday.
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
This thread is calling for your expertise darling!
Are you going to be broadcasting tomorrow night, or are you taking the holiday? ;D
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.
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.
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.
Sorry, I meant Monday night. I shouldn’t be wishing this long weekend away so fast!
Nolan Ryan spent a lot of time on some pretty bad teams...
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