On June 22, 1959 At L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax fans 16 Philadelphia Phillies, to set a new record for a night game, and wins, 6 – 2. Fans start yelling for fielders on their own team to drop flyballs: it’s a pretty solid sign there’s something mighty unusual afoot. That was the situation in the ninth inning Monday night when Los Angeles lefthander Sandy Koufax tried–and twice just failed to equal the 26-year-old modern-day National League strikeout record set by the great Dizzy Dean. Koufax wound up with 16 strikeouts, a record for a major league night game, as the Dodgers defeated Philadelphia 6-2.
The husky, handsome southpaw said later: “I’d like to have had it. But I knew I didn’t have much of a chance when I didn’t get that man (Joe Koppe) in the ninth. “Anyway, I’m just glad to have a good ball game after such a lousy start this year. I’m glad to be here instead ot pitching for Spokane or somebody.”
After eight innings, Koufax was just one strikeout away from the record of 17 established by Dean n a game he pitched for St. Louis against Chicago in 1933. “I knew I was pretty close went out to start the inning,” Koufax said, “I heard somebody n the stands yell something, “But I figured I had to Koppe. (Richie) Ashburn was the next man, and I knew I couldn’t let him. I may have struck ut once in five years–and I’ll probably do the same in the five.”
Koufax came awfully close. He put two strikes on Koppe–but he finally got his bat on the ball flied to Don Demeter in centerfield. Then Koufax got two n the seldom-fanned Ashburn-and Richie also flied to’ Demeter.
Some spectators were yelling Demeter to drop the two flies, Koufax would get an extra shot it the record. The game ended when Dave Philley singled and was thrown out trying to stretch the hit double. Philadelphia’s starter right, hander Jim Owens fanned seven Dodgers in seven innings. And Robinson, who relieved Owens, got one more. The total of 24 equaled a big league for strikeouts by both teams in one game. The record was set May 19, 1956, by Cleveland and Washington,
