This was a risky proposition. Koufax was surprised by what Roth had found; if he was ahead of the count for the decisive pitch, batters only hit. His advantage was overwhelming. Solution: Get ahead on the first pitch. A fourth key lesson was tossed out by the Dodgers outfielder Wally Moon. When he was on the Cardinals, Moon said it was common knowledge that Koufax tipped his pitches with a man on base. His hands would lift higher in the stretch position for a fast ball than for a curve.
Koufax fashioned a smaller rise to hide that. This was the hardest lesson for Koufax, because when in doubt, the only thing he felt separated him from everyone else was his blinding speed, and here Sherry was telling him to lose his advantage. But it worked. Easing up just enough, Koufax was able to locate his fastball much better, making the difference, as Vin Scully would often say, between a thrower and a pitcher.
Reining himself in saved his career. Thus began the five-year anni mirabili. Still, some respectfully test the edges of the Koufax myth. How did that change happen? He actually got mad. Koufax had thrown a three-finger, a change-up. I hit it hard. Of course, he had such a good release, a smooth point of delivery, that pop of the wrist at the end that projected the ball so strongly to home plate that the ball never went down as most fastballs actually do.
It lost no velocity to gravity. That was different. Originals can be reticent. And art, perhaps, begins in compassion, and, with grace, ends there. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest. The Atlantic Crossword. He could make it seem like a pitch over your head, and then drop it on the outside corner for a strike.
Or, he could throw it at the letters, just to drop in the dirt and make you look foolish. Mantle had a reputation for crushing curveballs, and Koufax was told to avoid throwing one to him.
However, he shook off the catcher twice, and threw a knee-buckling curve for the strikeout. During his six-year reign, Koufax was untouchable. He threw four no-hitters and a perfect game during that span, and lead the league in strikeouts four times. In that very short time, Koufax cemented himself as one of the best pitchers of all time. Seattle Mariners: Team preview and prediction for season by Sean Basile.
Next 3 of 9 Prev. Next: Trevor Hoffman's Change-up. More MLB News ». View all MLB Sites. More AL East News ». As we celebrate the 55th anniversary today, take a listen to broadcasting legend Vin Scully calling the bottom of the ninth.
Hearing Scully's play-by-play, describing fans "seeing the pitches with their heart," makes you feel like you're one of the 29, in attendance, at a still-young Dodger Stadium against the Chicago Cubs.
Koufax struck out the last six men he faced, with Harvey Kuenn pinch-hitting for opposing pitcher Bob Hendley making the final out. Playing second base behind Koufax that night was Jim Lefebvre, who would go on to manage the Cubs.
In addition to all the future managers, there was also a ton of talent on the field that night. While the '65 Cubs were a pedestrian bunch, their lineup contained the nucleus of the '69 squad that is easily one of the top five most beloved teams in Cubs history.
The only run the hosts scored that night was unearned. The game holds the record for fewest baserunners in a perfect game both teams , with two. Hendley, in just his fifth ever major league decision, was masterful as well, but overshadowed for obvious reasons.
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