Liblog
Staff members from the Greenfield Public Library will write about recent developments at the library, staff book recommendations, new materials, updates on the progress of the new library, upcoming events and programs, and highlights of specific collections. For more information about the Greenfield Public Library, check out our
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Take me out to the ball game...
By Greenfield Public Library
Tuesday, Apr 22 2008, 06:27 PM
Before the Braves baseball team deserted Milwaukee in 1965, I was lucky as a boy to see some of the game's greats in action at County Stadium. Besides home team favorites like Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock and Lew Burdette, National Leaguers like Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks, Bob Gibson and so many more made regular visits. Before the designated hitter, fake home runs, and closers, it was a great era when starting pitchers more often than not pitched complete or near complete games. In June, 1962 I was in attendance when baseball's two greatest left-handed pitchers squared off. I refer to Milwaukee Brave Warren Spahn and Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax. In her book, Sandy Koufax: A Lefy's Legacy, author Jane Leavy recounts that game amongst many. Koufax is a charismatic, enigmatic man. Born in 1935 in Brooklyn, then home of the Dodgers, he was the most dominant pitcher of the early 60's, with an unmistakable style, and a fastball feared by all hitters. Together with the big right-hander Don Drysdale, they comprised an unparalleled one-two hurling punch. They were pivotal in the effort of players to gain salary bargaining freedom. Koufax's no-hitters, Cy Young and MVP awards,his famous refusal to pitch game one of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, his retirement because of arthritis at age 30 after his best season ever; they're all here, and more, told with deserved affection for a great ballplayer, an exemplary human being. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. This biography can also be enjoyed by non-baseball fans and right-handed readers. Ask for Greenfield Library nonfiction call number BIO Koufax, Sandy. Play ball! --shelver dennis
