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

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On this date in baseball history . . . St. Louis Cardinals’ speedster Lou Brock passes Detroit Tiger legend Ty Cobb for first-place on baseball’s all-time stolen base list. Brock’s 893rd and 894th swipes of his Hall of Fame career come against the San Diego Padres. He would end his career with 938 thefts upon his retirment (1977) . . . Notorious spitballer Gaylord Perry records his record-setting 18th season of at least 100 strikeouts, tying him with Hall of Famer “Big Train” Walter Johnson and the illustrious Cy Young for the most such-seasons in major league baseball history (1982) . . . Detroit Tigers’ Schoolboy Rowe finally loses a game following 16-straight victories. He is chased in the seventh in a 13-5 drubbing by the A’s (1934) . . . New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson is awarded a controversial single — the only one of the game — as Nolan Ryan tosses a one-hit shutout for the California Angels (1973) . . . Following four seasons and more than 1,300 at-bats, Cleveland’s Duane Kuiper finally hits a homerun — the only one he would ever hit in a 12-year, 3,379 at-bat career (1977) . . . Yankee legend Mickey Mantle returns to the club as a coach following his 1969 retirement. He would serve in that position for only the remainder of the season (1970).

Mantle became a coach today in baseball history, briefly 

Don Baylor is plunked for the 190th time in his career, breaking Minnie Monoso’s American League record (1985) . . . The Detroit Tigers pay tribute to Ty Cobb with an honorary dinner. The club gives Cobb a cheque for $10,000 and the city of Detroit presents him with a trophy (1925) . . . Babe Ruth is suspended by manager Miller Huggins for arriving late to the park. Ruth is also fined $5,000 and is ordered not to suit up for that day’s contest. Ruth would unsuccessfully take his case to owner Jacob Ruppert who sides with Huggins (1925) . . . Longtime Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek becomes the team’s seventh member of their Level of Excellence (joining George Bell, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, Cito Gaston and Pat Gillick). The move comes as an emotional surprise to Cheek, who would call 4,306 consecutive games for the Jays (and another 41 straight post-seasons matchups) during the Jays’ first 27-1/2 years of existence. He would pass away from cancer less than a year later at the age of 66 (2004).

- The Heckler

Photo used with permission of Early Era Baseball Photos.com

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Thirty-six years ago today, the Minnesota Twins’ Harmon Killebrew became only the tenth man to reach Major League Baseball’s prestigious 500 home run club, taking the Baltimore Orioles’ Mike Cueller yard in the first inning. Killebrew would later add #501 in the game (although the “Killer’s” two-taters would go in vain, his team losing 4-3). 

Killebrew joined 500 HR club, today in baseball history 

The 36-year-old would end his career with 573 home runs in total, now sitting ninth all-time behind, from top, Barry Bonds (757); Hank Aaron (755); Babe Ruth (714); Willie Mays (660); Sammy Sosa (604); Ken Griffey Jr. (589); Frank Robinson (586) and Mark McGwire (583).

The Heckler has to ask, however – does the 500 home run club hold anywhere near the same meaning as it did back then? What used to be a rubber-stamp to the Hall of Fame now looms as just another bloated indication of the enhancement era in my eyes. Is Mark McGwire a Hall of Famer? Hardly. Rafael Palmeiro? Please. What about Frank Thomas? Hmmm. The debate will surely rage.

The bottom line, from these eyes, is baseball as a whole – writers, fans, players – need to understand that numbers are just that: numbers. Nothing should be an automatic anything when it comes to the Hall of Fame. By that logic, you mean to tell me if Dave Kingman somehow swatted another 58 homeruns in his “illustrious” career, him and his .236 would be Cooperstown material? C’mon. Let’s give this whole “500 HR = Hall of Fame” a realistic dose of reality. Players like Harmon Killebrew surely deserve it, no?

Get in on the debate. Leave a comment by clicking the link at the bottom of this post. Thanks for visiting BaseballBigMouth.com!

- The Heckler

Photos used with permission of Early Era Baseball Photos.com

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