TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

September 9 1965, Sandy Koufax etched his name into history by becoming the first major-league pitcher to throw four no-hitters. His masterpiece was a 1-0 perfect game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium before 29,139 fans.

Matched against lefty Bob Hendley, Koufax was at his sharpest. Hendley, recently recalled from the minors, allowed only one hit, but an unearned run in the fifth inning proved decisive. Lou Johnson walked, advanced on a bunt, stole third, and scored when catcher Chris Krug’s throw sailed into left field. It was the game’s only run—and Hendley’s only blemish.

From the outset, Koufax’s command was nearly flawless. He struck out at least one batter in every inning, fanning 14 in total—a record for a perfect game. Future Hall of Famer Ernie Banks went down three times swinging. The Cubs’ lone brush with opportunity came in the sixth when Maury Wills’ errant throw was saved by Wes Parker at first base, preserving perfection.

Both pitchers carried no-hitters into the seventh, when Johnson doubled to break up Hendley’s bid. Koufax, meanwhile, was untouchable. In the eighth, he struck out Ron Santo, Banks, and Byron Browne in order. As the ninth began, Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully told his crew, “Let’s make a recording.” What followed became one of baseball’s most iconic calls: after two strikeouts, Koufax fanned pinch-hitter Harvey Kuenn, and Scully declared, “Swung on and missed, a perfect game!”

The duel lasted just one hour and 43 minutes. Hendley faced only 26 batters in his own gem, a performance that would have headlined any other night. Remarkably, he beat Koufax 2-1 in a rematch five days later.

Koufax’s perfect game was just the eighth in major-league history and remains the only one by a Dodgers pitcher. He finished the season 26-8 with a 2.04 ERA, 382 strikeouts, and a unanimous Cy Young Award. His record of four career no-hitters stood until Nolan Ryan broke it in 1981, but many still consider Koufax’s 1965 masterpiece the finest game ever pitched. (Read much more at SABR Great Games)

You can also learn more about the 9th inning broadcast and how it was found. Here on NPR.

September 9, 1992 -- In front of a sellout crowd at County Stadium, Robin Yount becomes the 17th and third youngest player to reach the 3000 hits milestone when he singles off of Indian reliever Jose Mesa in a 5-4 defeat to Cleveland. Only Hank Aaron and Ty Cobb reached the exclusive mark at younger ages. The 36 year-old Milwaukee center fielder also reached 1,000 and 2,000 hit plateaus against the Indians.

He also becomes only the 2nd player in history to record 200 home runs, 200 stolen bases and 100 triples, duplicating Willie Mays' feat.

This week we added 10 new games (including 2003 ALDS & NLDS games), bringing our total library to 2,585 also added 100+ new player pages (4,450 total) one of the new players: Hall of Famer Tom Glavine.

Todays Podcast

September 9, 1907 -- At Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, Boston Red Sox Ace Cy Young and the Philadelphia Athletic'’ Rube Waddell battle to a 13-inning scoreless tie. Neither pitcher walks a batter, both pitchers gave up only 6 hits and the game lasted just one hour and fifty three minutes. Here is the box score.

September 9, 1931 -- To raise funds to help the unemployed in the Depression, the Yankees, Giants, and Robins agree to a series of benefit games. Sixty thousand fans, paying regular prices, raise $59,000 in the first match-up, as Babe Ruth homers and the Yankees beat the Giants, 7 - 2.

September 9, 1933, Joe Hauser of the American Association’s Minneapolis Millers sets a professional record by hitting his 68th and 69th home runs. Hauser, who had hit 63 home runs with the minor league Baltimore Orioles in 1930, will never make the major leagues

September 9, 1950 -- At Fenway Park The Boston Red Sox advance to within a half-game of the second-place New York Yankees by walloping the Philadelphia A's, 8 - 3 and 11 - 3. All the Boston runs in the opener are unearned. In game two, a 7-run second inning allows Walt Masterson to win.

During game two, Dom DiMaggio, after leading off the first with a single, swipes second base, advances to third on an error, and then scores the first run of the game on a groundout. The stolen base is the final one the 'Little Perfesser' will get this season, but he will finish leading the American League with 15, the lowest total that has ever led either league.

September 9, 1953 -- Mickey Mantle's 2-run home run off Chicago's Billy Pierce caps a 7-run 5th inning, as New York wins, 9 - 3, at Yankee Stadium. Returning to CF after the 5th, Mantle is photographed blowing a huge bubble with a wad of gum. Manager Stengel will publicly rebuke the Mick, who will apologize for the indiscretion. However, Mantle does get an endorsement fee from the Bowman Gum company

September 9, 1960 — Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams hits career homer 511, tying him with Mel Ott for third on the all-time home run list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Jimmie Foxx (534). The historic homer, a two-out game-tying solo shot to deep right field, comes off Jim Perry in the fifth inning of a 6-3 loss to the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium.

September 8, 1962 In Game 2 of a twin bill Houston Colt 45's walk off in the 10th inning on a wild pitch by Roger Craig.

In an inning that would not make Bill James defiles happy, Bob Lills leads off with a bunt, is sacrificed to second, advances to third on a ground ball and scores the winning run on a wild pitch. Members can listen to the Sept 8th Game

September 9 , 1967 -- Jim Wynn smashes two home runs, his 34th and 35th of the year, to drop the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3. Wynn becomes the first in franchise history to reach 100 RBIs. Mike Cuellar wins his 14th of the year.

September 9, 1970, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for the third time on the season. McLain’s latest ban, which results from him carrying a gun, along with other unspecified charges, will sideline him for the rest of the season.

September 9, 1977 -- At Fenway Park, Allan Trammel and Lou Whitaker, playing shortstop and second base, respectively, both make their major league debut for Detroit. The Tigers' new double-play combination will be teammates for the next 19 seasons, a major league record. Boston prevails today, 5 - 1 and 8 - 6, however, both players collect their first hits.

September 9, 1978 - Ron Guidry (21-2) gives up two singles in the 1st inning and that's it. New York sends 12 runners to the plate and scores seven runs in the 4th inning to win, 7 - 0, against Dennis Eckersley and cut the Boston lead to a single game. For Guidry, it is his 7th shutout of the year, and the first lefty shutout in Fenway Park since Ken Holtzman fired one on August 5, 1974. Members can listen to the Sept 9th Game

September 9, 1979 -- The first-place Baltimore Orioles romp to their 7th win in a row, larruping the Boston Red Sox, 16 - 4. Rick Dempsey hits a grand slam for the Birds in their 6-run 6th, and Al Bumbry adds a home run in the same frame. Jim Rice homers for the Red Sox. Sox Catcher Bob Montgomery is 1 for 2 in his last major league game. in his final at-bat, he becomes the last player to step into the batter's box without wearing a helmet. The Red Sox's backup catcher, who is required to wear a protective plastic liner within his cap, is allowed to be helmetless due to a grandfather clause in Major League Baseball's edict enacted eight years ago, making the use of helmets mandatory for all batters.

September 9, 1989 -- At Anaheim Stadium, California's Devon White steals four bases including second base, third base, and home in the same inning off the battery off Rich Gedman and Joe Price during the Angels' 8 - 5 win over Boston. The Angels score three in the 8th to break a tie.

The eighth inning was a strange one - Rob Murphy came in to pitch for Boston Max Venable singled to right and then on a bunt Claudell Washington hit into a double play on a bunt attemp. Then White singled to left and stole second, Chili Davis was walked intentionally and Wally Joyner's infield singled to shortstop loaded the bases Mark McLemore then singled to right White scored, Davis scored, Joyner scored on an error by Carlos Quintana.

The Angels win improves there record to 81-61 while the Red Sox fall to 70-72.

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TRIVIA ANSWER: SANDY KOUFAX

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