The really amazing thing is that Koufax only had two pitches. A 97 mph fastball and an 88 mph curve. No change-up, no slider. He used the same delivery for both. The batters used to say they knew when a curve was coming because they could hear the spin--sounded like a helicopter rotor.
Didn't help them hit it---it'd start out at their eyes and break right over the heart of the plate. The Dodgers used to be on NBC's Game of the Week a lot when I was a kid, and it was really something to watch the guy make a monkey out of some of the best hitters in the NL.
Larry, you have to pick up a copy of the book about Koufax called A Lefty's Legacy, by Jane Leavy. Great read, and great insight into the guy. He was also a high school basketball star who dunked a ball over Harry Gallatin, who was the starting center for the Knicks at the time, during an exhibition game.
Still, one of the most dominating performances by a pitcher I ever saw was by Tom Seaver, in an All Star game back in the early 70s. He struck out 7 of the 9 batters he faced, averaging about 11 pitches an inning. If he could have stayed in beyond the All Star limit of 3 innings for a pitcher, I'm certain he would have thrown a perfect game. His stuff was that good that day.
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