March 13th, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka For those who weren’t around to witness Hall of Fame left-hander Sandy Koufax pitch in person, all I can do is offer you my sympathy. But for those of us who were blessed to have personally witness the man often referred to as “The left arm of God,” we were indeed blessed. Koufax was, in every sense of the word, the best there’s ever was.
Or was he?
Koufax finished his brilliant 12-year MLB career with an insane 165-87 record and impossible 2.76 ERA, while notching four no-hitters – including a perfect game – and completed 137 of the 314 games that he started; something that we will never again see in the game baseball.
“The left arm of God.”
(AP photo)
But even though Koufax won three Cy Young awards, back when there was only one for all of baseball, three Triple Crowns, was a NL MVP, was a two-time World Series MVP, and was named to seven All-Star teams leading up to his induction to the Hall of Fame in 1972, his brilliant career lasted only 12 years, cut short by what, at the time, was called “arthritis” in his left elbow, but today can be repaired with what later came to be known as Tommy John surgery.
On March 29, 2018, Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw will make his franchise-record-setting eighth consecutive Opening Day start against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, thus topping the previous record co-held by fellow Dodger Hall of Famers Don Drysdale and Don Sutton. And if what current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after Kershaw’s dominating performance in his third start of the spring on Monday rings true, the best may be yet to come for the soon-to-be (on March 19) 30-year-old Dallas, Texas native.
“Today was actually as good as he’s thrown the baseball,” said Roberts. “That’s by far the best he’s thrown his slider.”
Kershaw will pitch the entire 2018 season as a 30-year-old. Is it really possible that we haven’t seen the best he has to offer yet? (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
Now, whether Roberts meant the best Kershaw has thrown the baseball this spring or the best he has thrown the baseball ever is certainly subject to interpretation. But for those on hand to witnessed his meaningless spring training game in person on Monday afternoon, they are probably going with the latter.
Yeah … he’s that good.
Through his first 10 major league seasons, Kershaw has a Koufax-like career record of 144-64 and an even better 2.36 career ERA. Yet it was what the Dodgers 2006 first-round draft pick did on Monday in a spring training game that drew such high praise from his manager.
In his 3.2 innings pitched on Monday, Kershaw did not allow a run and gave up only two hits – ironically, both doubles by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia, while walking one and striking out seven of the 14 Brewers batters he faced.
Why only 3.2 innings, you ask?
“I thought that was enough work for him,” Roberts later said.
The three-time NL Cy Young award winner, five-time ERA leader, former NL MVP, Triple Crown winner, seven-time All-Star and former Gold Glover would throw another simulated inning in the bullpen following his outstanding performance.
Through his combined 9.2 innings pitched thus far this spring, Kershaw hasn’t allowed a run and has given up only six hits, while walking four and striking out 11.
Yeah … he’s that good.
…and he seems to be getting better.
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As a Dodger fan, over the past 7 decades, I feel lucky to have witness Koufax pitch, although mostly on national TV, against the Yankees and Mets and during the World Series, during his heydays. It’s great, through modern technology, I’m able to watch Kershaw pitch on a daily basis. It looks like we’re going to see another number retired, one of these days.
Gotta love Clayton and we all hope he gets better and he has been great this spring. But there is definitely chinks in the Kershaw armor. The back has been a problem over the last two years and he failed to dominate in the playoffs AGAIN. I hope Clayton signs an “reasonable” extension with the Dodgers soon. An extension that doesn’t handcuff the team (like Greinke in AZ) if things fall apart.
I am also old enough to have seen Koufax pitch. Definitely heard him pitch a lot more on the old transistor radio. I used to hang on every pitch and thought he would win EVERY game and strike out EVERY hitter. He didn’t disappoint too often. Who can forget game seven of the 1965 World Series? In my opinion Koufax’s 1963-1966 pitching performances were the best and most dominating of all time. Still know where I was, when I heard shortly after the 1966 season he was retiring. Big Bummer.
Still remember the 63 World Series vividly. My dad dropped my brother and I off at the ticket office (the cinder block bunker is still there today) at 8 am to get in line to purchase WS tickets. The place was packed and quite overwhelming for a (then) 8-year-old (me) and 10 year-old (my brother). Finally, around 2 pm, it was our turn at the window.
My dad had given us specific instructions to (try) to get tickets to Game-4, but they were already sold out, so we got tickets to Game-3 on the field level out in left field past the foul pole. As luck would have it, our seats were located under the overhang, so we were in the shade the entire game.
To this day, Don Drysdale’s pitching performance that day is still considered one of the best World Series games ever pitched. He threw a 3-hit complete-game shutout, issuing one walk and striking out nine. That was the day I became “Fan Since 53” – both for my year of birth and for my love of Don Drysdale.
The game ended on a fly ball to the deep right field off the bat of Joe Pepitone that Dodgers right fielder Ron Fairly (another of my childhood favorites – for obvious reasons), which he caught right in front of the bullpen gate (phew!).
That is a cool memory. Good thing you guys went with game 3 (after getting instructions to get tickets to game 4) instead of game 5.
My memory about game 7 of the 1965 series isn’t nearly as good. My memory is getting to skip school for game 7 and watch it at my grandparent’s house with a friend on what was probably a 27 inch COLOR TV. We only had black and white at our house in those days. Hard to believe, today, that the MLB marketing geniuses back then would schedule the World Series games at times most of their TV audience would be at work or school.
I do have a Drysdale story. The same friend who watched game 7 with me’s Dad owned a carpet store. His Dad sold Don Drysdale carpets around that time. So the friend and I got to tag along to Drysdale’s house when they installed the carpeting. Don wasn’t there, but Ginger was, we both thought she was pretty, but of course were big time disappointed Big D wasn’t. The friend’s Dad told Ginger how disappointed we were, so she loaded us up with some autographed pictures. I still have a soft spot for old Ginger.