June 8, 1964 - Johnny Podres (pictured with a fan in 1962), 31, one of the “big three” Los Angeles Dodger pitchers in their 1963 World Series triumph, will undergo surgery Thursday for an elbow injury and will be lost to the club for at least two more months.
“He will be extremely fortunate if he can pitch again this year,” said Dr. Robert Kerlan, who made the decision to operate today after weeks of treatment and continued workouts by the husky southpaw.
The doctor described the injury as an “ununited piece of bone,” a condition in which a bone was agitated from its position in the elbow. The bone piece will be removed and the elbow muscles “re-attached a little higher up,” the surgeon said.
He said Podres had had the condition since he was 13 but that it caused him only intermittent troubles until he was struck by a pitched ball two months ago in Milwaukee. He hasn’t pitched since May 17, when the Pittsburgh Pirates knocked him out of the box in the first inning. He remained home when the club went on its last road trip.
Manager Walter Alston said he would go with his present rotation of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Phil Ortega, and Joe Moeller for the time being at least.
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