Sunday, March 30, 2014

World Series: Did You Know?

Sandy Koufax did not permit the opposition an RBI for the first 16 2/3 innings he tossed.

Taking the hill for the first time in game 1 of the 1959 World Series, it was already a lost cause. It was the bottom of the 5th inning, and the Chicago White Sox had a lead of 11-0! The Los Angeles Dodgers needed something to build on for game 2. Koufax helped them do that.

Koufax got Jim Rivera to fly out to right. Then is was K time for Koufax. Facing Early Wynn, who was working on the shutout for Chicago, Sandy fanned his mound opponent. The inning ended with Luis Aparicio lining out to left.

In the bottom of the 6th, Sandy got Nellie Fox out on a fly to left. The Jim Landis grounded out to short. Ted Kluszewksi also grounded out, but to second. Koufax was through for the day, but it was a good outing. 2IP, 2K, 0R, 0H.

So in game five of the 1959 World Series, it was time for Koufax to get his first World Series start. Sandy was ever so dandy here in front of a huge crowd at Los Angeles. A crowd numbering 92, 706! And with the Dodgers up in the 1959 World Series three games to one, who better to start then the man that would be on the mound when you needed him the most?

Looking to bring the Fall Classic crown to the west coast for the first time ever, Koufax got Aparicio to fan, Fox to pop out and then Landis went down on strikes. That was one quick top of the first.

Koufax had another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second. It was in the top of the third inning where Sandy ran into some problems.

Bubba Phillips led off with a single. Koufax then got Jim McAnany to pop out. Bob Shaw, Koufax's mound opponent on the day, laid down a bunt. Aparicio singled to left, Phillips made it to third, but when Luis tried for second on the play, he was caught in a rundown and tagged out.

Fox led off the top of the 4th with a single to right. Landis then singled to right, and Fox made it to third. Sherman Lollar was up with the potential for an RBI. But he grounded into a double play. Fox did score on the play, but no RBI. Kluszewski ended the inning by flying out to deep center.

Koufax then K'd Smith to start the 5th and then Phillips was out on a ground ball to short. McAnany walked, but Shaw went down on strikes.

Aparicio got a single to lead of the top of the 6th, but he would prove to be the last baserunner off Koufax in this game. Fox was out on a fly to center. Landis fanned. Lollard grounded into a force at second.

In the 7th inning, Sandy got Chicago 1-2-3. Kluszewski, suddenly not looking so dangerous, flew out. Smith then fanned. Phillips flew out to center. Koufax was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. Los Angeles lost this game to cut their lead to three games to two. But a win in game six brought LA their first World Series crown. Sandy Koufax did not pitch in game six. But in nine innings pitched, he had surrendered just 5 hits and just one run. No RBIs.

So four years and a lot of progress later, it was Sandy on the hill in game one of the 1963 World Series. The New York Yankees were the lucky team that got to face the red hot lefty.

Koufax K'd the side in the first. In the second he fanned both Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris to make it five straight K's to start the game. Elston Howard stopped the bleeding by popping out to the catcher.

In the third inning, Koufax fanned Joe Pepitone to make it 6 out of 7 batters whiffed. Clete Boyer and Whitey Ford didn't strike out, but both failed to get the ball out of the infield.

In the fourth inning, Koufax was back in K mode! Tony Kubek, Bobby Richardson and Tommy Tresh all fanned, just like they had in the top of the first inning! Sandy was averaging more than two (9) K's per inning (4) through four innings pitched!

Mickey Mantle made it double digits for K's by Sandy went he went down on strikes to start the 5th. Roger Maris popped out. The Yankees still hadn't gotten the ball out of the infield. But that was about to change.

Howard singled to right. Pepitone lashed a single to right, as well. Clete Boyer hit one that looked like it would make it out of the infield. A nice play by Dick Tracewski stopped the ball from going too far. And for a while, it looked like Dick would snare it cleanly. However, he sort of dived too far, and the ball bounced off his wrist. By keeping the ball in front of him, he stopped the Yankees from scoring on the play.

It was ruled a hit. You blink three times and the Yankees go from being no-hit to having three hits and the bases loaded. New York then sent Hector Lopez up to bat for Ford. The Yankees were losing 5-0, but here was a chance to cut into the lead a little! Koufax still had some magic up his sleeve, however, and fanned Hector.

Sandy then got Kubek to pop out to start the bottom of the 6th. But Richardson and Tresh walked. And Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were next. Only one out. But Sandy Koufax, bringing it when he had to, got them both to pop out. It was still 5-0, LA through 6 innings.

Koufax then got Elston Howard on strikes to start the 7th inning. Joe Pepitone popped up back to Johnny Roseboro behind the plate. Clete Boyer popped out to Maury Wills at short.

Phil Linz batted for Stan Williams in the bottom of the 8th and struck out. Tony Kubek hit the ball on the ground to deep short, and made it to first. Richardson fanned again. But Tom Tresh desposited a Koufax offering to deep left. When the ball landed fair in the stands, Koufax had lost the shutout, and Tresh had 2 RBIs. And Sandy's streak of not permitting an RBI ended at 16 2/3 innings. The Dodgers went on to win the game, 5-2.

Sandy had pitched in his first three World Series games, and given up just 3 runs at this point. With each World Series start, he was getting better and better. He might give up more hits, and perhaps a run or two would score. But the feeling had been established with his outing in game 1 of the 1963 World Series: When Koufax was on, you simply didn't have a chance!

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