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Nine Pitches

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 10:20 AM

This date in Mets history: Sandy Koufax struck out Richie Ashburn, Rod Kanehl and Felix Mantilla on nine pitches in the first inning and went on to no-hit the Mets in Los Angeles on this date in 1962. It was the first of Koufax's four no-hitters -- he pitched one each season for four years. Koufax struck out 13 and walked five. He became the first National League pitcher to strike out the side on nine pitches since Dazzy Vance of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1924.

Elster88 Jun 30 2006 10:53 AM

Were they all swing-and-misses?

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 11:08 AM

According to retrosheet, at least Mantilla's third strike was looking.

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 11:11 AM

For what it's worth, in Seaver's 19-strikeout game, he got struck out the side on ten pitches --- in the ninth.

seawolf17 Jun 30 2006 11:15 AM

When I was a kid, I had a baseball record book, and one of my favorite things in there was the list of all the guys who had struck out the side on nine pitches. I thought that was just about one of the coolest things you could do in baseball. I wonder where that book is now.

Elster88 Jun 30 2006 11:16 AM

Edgy DC wrote: According to retrosheet, at least Mantilla's third strike was looking. My wonderment was more of a "Did anyone make contact?"

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 11:22 AM

Somebody climb into the wayback.

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 11:24 AM

By the way, how cruel was it to see Koufax dominate the young Mets, with former Dodger fans having first seen him as a wild teenager, and knowing he was supposed to be theirs?

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 01:33 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 30 2006 02:03 PM

The Times story by Robert Lipsyte says that he first three batters "blinked three times each and left the batter's box muttering." After retiring only two of the first 8 batters that came to the plate, Bob Miller was lifted by Casey Stengel, for Ray Daviault, to retire Koufax. Davialut would pitch through the eighth inning for the Mets. Future Met Larry Burright ended his 0-38 skid (plus Miller's day) with two hits. Future Met coach and interim manager Frank Howard got two hits, including a homer, plus two runs and to ribbies.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2006 02:01 PM

Was young Gooden's 3-K performance in the '84 AS game a 9-pitch deal? I suspect it wasn't even though I remember it as being about as dominating as it gets. That and the sight of (then Mont Expo) catcher Gary Carter bouncing out from behind the plate after #3 with a "WOW" look on his face.

metirish Jun 30 2006 02:14 PM

I looked but couldn't find out if it was a 9 pitch outing for Gooden, still it sounded like a great game and Valenzuela and Gooden both struck out the side. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1984as.shtml

Elster88 Jun 30 2006 02:18 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Was young Gooden's 3-K performance in the '84 AS game a 9-pitch deal? With all the crap they rerelease these days I wonder if there's anyway I could get that on tape or DVD.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2006 02:23 PM

Gooden's appearance was cool because he was still only 19 and just in his rookie year so, in those pre-ESPN saturation days, it was the first chance much of the country had to see him. He came in to relieve in the middle innings somewhere then: Bang-Bang-Bang! and the whole stadium just lit up while the broadcast booth plus many viewers at home got a big 'ol WOW! Met fans of course were already getting used to it but it was still a point of pride.

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 02:31 PM

For ten Crane Pool Bucks, name the three batters.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2006 02:41 PM

The only one I remember was Alvin Davis - Seattle's ROY that year. He was the last one IIRC.

Edgy DC Jun 30 2006 03:05 PM

That's a Kingman for Knottie right there. It's also not the most remarkable inning of that game.