Word: koufax
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...erratic pitching: Woody Fryman allowed only four hits when he beat the Giants 3-1; but against the Atlanta Braves, he gave up six runs in four innings. The Los Angeles Dodgers had all they could do just to show up for a game. In addition to Sandy Koufax and his arthritic pitching arm, the Dodger sick list included Shortstop Maury Wills (damaged knee ligament), Pitcher Don Sutton (pulled arm muscle), and Outfielder Lou Johnson (bruised shoulder...
...beating the Pirates 6-5-winning his own game with a ninth-inning home run. The Pirates got acrobatic fielding from Roberto Clemente and Matty Alou, plus timely hitting: in one game they spotted Atlanta a 5-1 lead and roared back to win 8-6. The Dodgers had Koufax, who breezed to his 25th victory (and fourth in a row), an 11-1 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. They got a bonus in the return to form of Don Drysdale, who looked like his old overpowering self when he shut out the Chicago Cubs 4-0. At week...
...Koufax did not pitch another game that year. In spring training in 1965, the arm ballooned just as predicted, and Dr. Kerlan advised that Koufax be used sparingly. But even more than most pitchers, Sandy needs the rhythm of regular rotation every four days. He decided to try-by eliminating his sidearm delivery and the wrenching slider, or fast curve, from his repertoire. With the help of ice packs, he did not miss a turn all year long, posted a 26-8 record for the regular season, and then pitched the Dodgers to victory in the World Series...
...admits. "In fact, it hurts most of the time." He cannot straighten the arm beyond 22°, and the bone spurs on the elbow have grown from i in. to i in. "The spurs," says Dr. Kerlan, "represent an attempt by the body to immobilize the joint." Despite all, Koufax has not missed a turn...
...League lead. With eight starts remaining, Sandy may still wind up with 25 victories, but the elbow will eventually get him. That is medically certain; surgery on the spurs, says Dr. Kerlan, would only accelerate the arthritis. "I seem to be getting worse as the season goes on," says Koufax, "and the curve is not as good as it used to be." Retirement has even crossed his mind, perhaps after one more season. "I'm 30, not 24," he says. "It's a matter of how long I can stand the pain...