k x 382

here it is - post number 382. so what better time to acknowledge sandy koufax and his fantastic 1965 season. that's the year he struck out a (then) record 382 batters, a feat that has only been surpassed by nolan ryan - and that was by just one measly strikeout!

with those 382 strikeouts, koufax broke the modern record of 348 set by bob feller in 1946. what didn't koufax do in 1965? look at that line on the back of his 1966 topps card! he pitched a perfect game, won 26 games, had 27 complete games and 8 shutouts, pitched 335.2 innings with a bad arm, won the pitching triple crown, won the cy young, won the world series (and was named series mvp), and even posted a career high in batting average. he did finish second in the mvp voting to willie mays, so i suppose he didn't do everything. koufax finished the regular season strong, with 3 consecutive complete games (two of which were shutouts) with the last being against the milwaukee braves. he tallied 36 strikeouts in those final 27 innings, and his last victim of the season was none other than joe torre.

here's to you, sandy!