On September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax pitched the 4th no-hitter of his career – but this one was extra special. This one was perfect.
Koufax was dominant from the opening pitch, striking out 14 Cubs in a 1-0 shutout.
The Box Score from Koufax’s Perfect Game
And playing first base for the Dodgers that night was a very nervous Wes Parker, who is now a baseball legend with the team. Parker held center court last week in Long Beach, where he entertained dozens of adoring fans attending a convention of the Society for American Baseball Research: SABR Web site
Wes Parker, a Fan Fave at SABR
Parker gave the inside story of what it was like to play in a perfect game.
“We were very aware,” Parker told the crowd.
“We only got one hit. It was the second fewest hits of any game in history or at least tied for it,” he stated.
That’s because Bob Hendley of the Cubs was equally masterful that September night – giving up just one hit to the Dodgers.
“But the interesting thing was the one hit we got which was bloop double I think from Lou Johnson – did not result in a score,” Parker explained. ” The run came on a walk, stolen base, Johnson stole third and Chris Krug (the Cubs catcher) threw the ball into left field. And Lou Johnson scored – we didn’t get a hit. So it could have been a double no-hitter- but we still would have won 1-0. The hit did not result in a run.”
As the game entered the middle frames, Parker began believing that something truly special was unfolding at Dodger Stadium.
“After 7 innings, Jimmy Lefebre who was a rookie, I was a rookie starter at first, we came into the dugout, we know Sandy’s got a perfect game,” Parker said.
“And Jimmy turned to me and said, ‘god I hope they don’t hit the ball to me’. And I turned to Jimmy and I said, ‘Me too – I hope they don’t hit it to me, I don’t want to screw up this perfect game.’”
The two players shared a nervous laugh together about wanting to avoid the ball.
“And you know we could have sat in the dugout (in the 8th and 9th) because Sandy struck out the last six hitters. We didn’t have to go out on the field. He just blew them away with fastballs.”
“Seaver did that too,” Parker explained. “I think he struck out the last 10 hitters. But you will almost never see a pitcher that strong at the end of a ballgame. It’s two and a half hours later and he’s been throwing up to 100 pitches. And that wears you out. It wears your arm down. And Sandy (and Seaver) were actually throwing harder at the end of the game than at the beginning. And Bob Gibson was that kind of pitcher. He’d still be throwing bullets at the end of a ballgame.”
Parker dodged a bullet that night by not having to field a ball in the 8th or 9th inning. But as a future Gold Glover, Parker most likely would have gobbled up anything hit his way.
In my next blog, something not so perfect, as Parker swings away at Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and players tainted by the scandal of steroids.
