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How Koufax Krumbled...

For most of the 1960's, Sandy Koufax was the model of consistency for the LA Dodgers, so much so that he earned his plaque in Cooperstown based on the years 1962-66, when he pitched the Dodgers to 2 World Series titles and countless thrills. At times, he was still "a work in progress," as evidenced by this first inning Strat-O-Matic recreation of an early season game at the Coliseum against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Here's what happened:

Bob Skinner(LF): Walked(moved to 2nd on passed ball)
Dick Groat(SS): Popped to catcher.
Roberto Clemente(RF): Singled, Skinner scored.
Dick Stuart(1B): Singled, Clemente to 3rd.
Joe Christopher(CF): Walked, bases loaded.
Hal W. Smith(C): Lined to 2nd.

At that point, Koufax could concentrate on getting that 3rd out via the "K," what happened next would certainly put gray hair on Walter Alston and the 25,000 in attendance: it would make that Coliseum crowd fairly restless, too:

Don Hoak(3B): Singled, Clemente, Stuart scored, Christopher to 3rd.
Dick Schofield(2B, filling in for an injured Mazeroski): Walked, bases loaded.
Joe Gibbon(SP): Walked, Christopher scored, everyone else up a base.
Skinner: Walked, Hoak scored, everyone else up a base.
Groat: Walked, Schofield scored, everyone else up a base.
Clemente: Flied to center.

Koufax's first-inning line was, 12 batters faced, 6 runs on 6 walks, 3 hits, no strikeouts.

The Dodgers would get some of that back in their half of the 1st, scoring 4 times before Joe Gibbon recorded an out on a lead-off walk to Tommy Davis, back-to-back doubles by Joe Gilliam and Frank Howard(scoring Davis, Gilliam) and a 2-run homer by Gordie Windhorn.

The first inning was just the beginning, I'll post more from this crazy S-O-M epic later on.

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