In 1965, Dodgers Hall of Fame left-hander Sandy Koufax tossed 27 complete games, including a perfect game on September 9. He then repeated this remarkable feat with 27 complete games in 1966.

Koufax’s right-handed counterpart, fellow Dodgers Hall of Famer Don Drysdale, tossed 21 complete games in 1964 and 20 in 1965.

The last Dodgers pitcher to toss a complete game was 28-year-old right-hander Walker Buehler, who did so on April 25 of this season against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in his 4-0/three-hit shutout of the Snakes. He also tossed two complete games in 2019, which led the National League.

Do you see where this is going?

In the simplest of terms, complete games are now all but extinct in America’s National Pastime. Chances are the only time that you might see one again is if a pitcher is throwing a perfect game or a no-hitter.

Might.

During the just-concluded 2022 season, 27-year-old Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara led all of baseball with his six complete games. Twenty-eight-year-old Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez finished a distant second with three. Twenty-nine-year-old Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola and 32-year-old Boston Red Sox right-hander (and former Dodger) Nathan Eovaldi each had two, with 23 others having one. That’s it. That’s 36 complete games out of 2,430 regular-season games in 2022.

The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan

Play Ball!

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