On this date in 1965, legendary Dodgers’ pitcher Sandy Koufax pitched his fourth no-hitter in consecutive years, this one a perfect game. “The Man with the Golden Arm” would pitch 12-years in the major leagues, his magnificent 165-87 win-loss, 2.76 ERA career cut-short due to traumatic arthritis, brought on after jamming his arm returning to second base on a pick-off throw during the 1964 season.

Koufax poses after recording his then-record fourth no-hitter, a perfect game in fact, on this date in 1965 

He would win the National League’s MVP award in 1963, along with Cy Young awards (when only one was awarded in all of baseball) in 1963, 1965 and 1966 by unanimous votes – winning the pitcher’s Triple Crowns in the process as well, meaning wins, strikeouts and earned run average. He was also the first major leaguer to throw more than three no-hitters; the first left-hander to toss a perfect game since 1880; the first major leaguer to have eight games or more with at least 15 strikeouts; the first major leaguer to average more than nine strikeouts per nine innings (9.28 to 9) and allow fewer than seven hits per nine innings at the same time (6.79 to 9).

Koufax demonstrates his fearsome Southpaw delivery

Also notable for being an outstanding Jewish athlete (Koufax’ refusal to play in a 1965 World Series game due to Yom Kippur rankled many) Koufax followed his playing career into the TV booth for NBC’s Game of the Week, where he would remain for seven seasons. He was elected to the Baseball  Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility in 1972, mere weeks after his 36th birthday – the youngest member ever. In June of that year, his #32 was retired by the Dodgers along with greats Roy Campanella (39) and Jackie Robinson (42).

- The Heckler

Enjoy this rare treat, video of Koufax at work, the man The Heckler’s father — “The Quiet Man”, ironically — dubbed the best pitcher he has ever seen . . .

Photo used with permission of Early Era Baseball Photos.com

CLICK HERE to read Punch’s take on Bonds’ bashing

CLICK HERE as Punch puts things Bonds in historical perspective 

CLICK HERE to read The Hecklers’ take on MLB waffling on recognizing feat

THEODORE SAMUAL WILLIAMS 

Teddy Ballgame, rookie year, 1939

On this date in baseball history, 1966, the Boston Red Sox “Splendid Splinter” Ted Williams is inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Williams, the last man to ever hit .400 in a season (.406 in 1941) would end a stellar career – spent entirely with the Red Sox – with a sparkling .344 average, 521 home runs and 1839 RBI. A two-time American League Most Valuable Player, he led the junior circuit in batting six times, winning the Triple Crown on two occasions.

Ted Williams - decorated war hero

Of further note, he served as a United States Marine Corps pilot during both World War II and the Korean War, losing five of his prime playing years in the process. He homered in his final at-bat, September 28, 1960. During his induction speech, Williams used the opportunity to appeal for the hallowed hall to also included stars of the Negro Leagues. “I’ve been a very lucky guy to have worn a baseball uniform, and I hope some day the names of Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson in some way can be added as a symbol of the great Negro players who are not here only because they weren’t given a chance,” said Williams. A noted outdoorsman, he was also elected to the Fishing Hall of Fame. He died July 5, 2002 at the age of 83.

Williams and the equally-immortal Babe Ruth 

“When I walk down the street and meet people,” Williams was once famously quoted as saying, “I just want them to think ‘There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived.’ ”

- The Heckler

CLICK HERE for BaseballBigMouth’s tribute to the great Ty Cobb

CLICK HERE for a rare glimpse at Ty Cobb - playing for Cleveland?!?

Photos used with permission of Early Era Baseball Photos.com

On this day, July 17 (the anniversary of his death in 1961) BaseballBigMouth is proud to offer our readers a small tribute to the man who many feel to still be the greatest hitter of all-time — and still the possessor of the best all-time batting average at .367 — famed Detroit Tiger, Tyrus Raymond Cobb. Forget the lurid controversies and such, God knows there has been plenty written on those tidbits, today we celebrate the career of man with few peers.

A rookie Cobb embarks on a storied career, 1905

Born Saturday, December 18, 1886, in Narrows, Georgia, Cobb was a mere 18-years-old when he broke in with the Detroit Tigers in 1905. “The Georgia Peach” would go on to play 22 seasons with the Tigers and two more with the Philadelphia Athletics, amassing an amazing 4,191 hits along the way and 892 stolen bases. To this day, almost 80-years after his retiremnet, Cobb’s marks in those categories – two of just 90 MLB records he established in his illustrious career — have been passed only once each (Pete Rose besting Ty’s hit total with 4,256 and Rickey Henderson passing his stolen base mark with 1270).

Famously-odd wide-gripped stance - a thing of beauty

Some other great facts about Ty Cobb . . .

1. Cobb is one of only two people to hit a home run before his 20th birthday as well as after his 40th birthday
2. owns the record for most steals of home all-time with 54
3. won 12 batting titles, best-ever
4. first-ever player selected to the Hall of Fame, 1936
5. first baseball player to star in a movie: “Somewhere in Georgia” by Grantland Rice
6. had numerous endorsements, including a chewing gum, suspenders and underwear
7. golfed with President William Taft
8. renowned for his investment in a small soda pop company called Coca Cola that reaped him a fortune, Cobb actually earned ten-times that amount in his General Motors investment
9. even Cobb’s dentures held value, sold for $7,475 at an auction
10. as of 2005, the Ty Cobb Educational Foundation has distributed more than $11 million to needy Georgians

One of most-famous action shots ever: Cobb spikes NY’s Austin 

Some great Ty Cobb quotes:

1. “I have observed that baseball is not unlike a war, and when you come right down to it, we batters are the heavy artillery.”

2. “The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault.”

3. “When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch.”

4. “I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me… but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch.”

5.  ”The great trouble with baseball today is that most of the players are in the game for the money and that’s it. Not for the love of it, the excitement of it, the thrill of it.”

CLICK HERE for a rare glimpse at Ty Cobb - playing for Cleveland?!?

Visit the official Ty Cobb Memorial Site by clicking here

For Ty Cobb’s official MLB statistics, click here

Photo used with permission of Early Era Baseball Photos.com