Game 1 in Los Angeles
Sandy Koufax (20-8, 1.86) v Jim Kaat (19-6, 3.16)
Could there be a better way to start off this 1966 World Series than with a matchup between two of the premiere southpaws in the game right now, with Sandy Koufax taking on Jim Kaat. Will this one live up to its pitchers’ duel billing or, as is so often the case, morph into something entirely different?
Most decidedly the former, as Koufax is almost unhittable and Kaat the unlucky 1-0 loser. The Twins do in fact get 3 hits off the great man - who goes the distance - but none lead to a run, and in the end it is Tommy Harper’s RBI double in the 6th that holds up as the game’s only score.
Game 2 in Los Angeles
Don Sutton (16-10, 2.49) v Stan Bahnsen (13-14, 3.34)
Dodgers lead series 1-0
Stan “Bahnsen Burner” Bahnsen kind of came out of nowhere in his fine rookie season, with little fanfare before or during. That wasn’t quite the case with Don “Black & Decker” Sutton, partially because of his Legacy Player status but also because of the club he plays for. This one should come down to which of these two tyros handles the occasion best.
In fact, both acquit themselves impressively but the Dodgers extend their series lead thanks to a 7th-inning rally in which they score both their runs in a 2-1 win. Just six hits apiece and 10 combined LOB, so this was a really well-pitched game with few scoring chances. As is almost invariably how it works, the victors took more of theirs than the vanquished and now head to the twin cities in a strong position.
Game 3 in Minneapolis
Barry Moore (19-8, 2.74) v Dean Chance (12-10, 3.13)
Dodgers lead series 2-0
Barry Moore was actually a Dodger last year and showed plenty of promise, and he delivered on that for the Twins in a fine sophomore campaign. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are Dean Chance’s third club with him still only 25. Once again, this looks very evenly-matched on the mound. The Twins need Killebrew, Oliva and Allison to come to life here before this series slips from their grasp entirely.
No dice I’m afraid as the superlative pitching continues and Chance (with some help from Hal Reniff in the 9th) delivers the Dodgers another shutout win. Only 10 hits all up in this one as the purists are getting one for the ages and LA moves to within a win of their prize.
Game 4 in Minneapolis
Larry Jackson (12-15, 4.00) v Don Drysdale (18-11, 3.19)
Dodgers lead series 3-0
Talk about daunting and imposing challenges as the Twins have to get past man-mountain Don Drysdale if they want to keep the series alive. They could do worse than have Larry Jackson on the mound for them, with three Championship rings including a couple with us in the late 50s and the other with his current club a few years back. More guile needed now than back then for LJ, but still that experience is priceless with the pressure as high as it is here.
And so it proves to be as he keeps the Dodgers in check and the Twins bats finally come alive with a strong rally over the late frames as Drysdale flags to lock down a 6-1 win and avoid the sweep. Jackson allows just one run on 7 hits over 7 and Ruben Amaro and Ed Charles each knock in a pair for the winners.
Game 5 in Cincinnati
Jim Kaat (0-1, 1.12) v Sandy Koufax (1-0, 0.00)
Dodgers lead series 3-1
Much easier said than done, but you’d have to think that if they can get the win here against Koufax then at least the Twins will have made the Dodgers work for this and perhaps even just send a little shiver of panic down their collective spine. It would certainly set up a big finish back in LA.
In the end, however, Sandy is almost a non-factor as the Dodger bats get to Kaat early and eventually score in five of the first six innings en route to a cruisy 7-1 clinching win. All the same, "The Left Arm of God goes" all nine again and deservedly takes home the MVP Award. A fitting end to a season that has seen some outstanding pitching from go to whoa.
S+ HOME
REPORTS HOME
PIRATES HOME