June 4, 1964 - Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched the third no-hit game of his major league career tonight. He allowed only one walk in gaining a 3-0 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium and tied Bob Feller’s modern record for no-hitters.
Koufax, a 28-year-old left-handed fireball ace, faced the minimum number of 27 batters in the game. Richie Allen became a baserunner, however, when he walked with two strikes on him in the fourth. He was thrown out trying to steal.
While becoming the second man to pitch three no-hitters, both since 1900, Koufax struck out 12 batters. By striking out 10 or more men for the 54th time in his career, Sandy tied a record shared by Feller and Rube Waddell.
Koufax was overpowering with his fastball and cut the corners with his curves so well that the only thing that came close to a hit was a slow bouncer by Allen with two out in the seventh.
Koufax pitched his first no-hitter June 30, 1962, against the Mets, winning 5-0. No. 2 came on May 11, 1963, against San Francisco, Koufax winning by 8-0.
“Tonight was the best game I ever pitched,” said Koufax tonight, gleaming with satisfaction. “The no-hitter against the Mets I had great stuff, but my control wasn’t sharp. I walked five guys. The one I pitched against the Giants I had my control, but I didn’t have great stuff. Tonight, thank goodness, I had both for the first time this year.”
In addition to Sandy’s three no-hitters, he has one one-hitter and seven two-hitters. “When he’s right,” Dodger manager Walter Alston said, “he pitches just like that. Not that he pitches a no-hitter every time — but he pitches that way, like he did tonight.”
Alston then explained what it was like in the dugout. “I stood in the same spot every inning, but in the ninth, the clubhouse man’s son came out and took my place. I moved him over. And I noticed Johnny Werhas had his foot up on the railing all game long. You see little things like that.”
“His other two were more exciting,” said Maury Wills. “In the other ones, some guys hit the ball sharply, and good plays had to be made. Here, there seemed to be no doubt about it.”
“Every time I go out there, I’m trying to throw a no-hitter,” said Koufax. “Heck, the first hit you give up might be the one to beat you. I gave up three infield hits in Cincinnati and got beat 1-0.
“It’s a great thrill. I used to think striking out 18 hitters [he did this twice] was a bigger thrill. But there, if you don’t strike out one guy, you can get the next guy. Here, you’ve got to get every man out. One hit, and it’s gone.
“That’s why I think Joe DiMaggio’s record of hitting in 56 straight games is the toughest of all for a hitter. One bad day and it’s over.”
There isn’t a boastful bone in Koufax’s injury-badgered body — but nobody has a better right to brag.
“If somebody has to no-hit you,” said Philadelphia manager Gene Mauch tonight, “it might as well be the world’s greatest pitcher.”
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