Jaster Had ’66 Dodgers’ Number: Zero : Baseball: Cardinals Southpaw Blanked Pennant-Bound Los Angeles Five Times During The Season

In the summer of 1966, southern California was a good place for rock-and-roll and baseball. The Beach Boys tilted the charts with ‘Pet Sounds,’ Brian Wilson’s ode to teen-age spirituality. Meanwhile, the Dodgers were good enough to defend their National League title, compile a 95-67 record and edge out the second-place San Francisco Giants of Mays, McCovey, Marichal and Perry.

The ’66 Dodgers had baseball’s best starter, Sandy Koufax (27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 strikeouts), and reliever, Phil Regan (14-1, 1.62 ERA, 21 saves). They had average defense and a modest offense that manufactured just enough runs with speed and situational hitting.

But the Dodgers experienced one gigantic frustration that summer, a frustration nearly costing them the pennant. They couldn’t beat a 22-year-old St. Louis Cardinals left-hander named Larry Jaster. They couldn’t even score on him.

Five times the Dodgers faced Jaster, and five times they were blanked, tying a record. Their cumulative batting statistics read like a Little League nightmare: 45 innings, 24 hits (all singles), 31 strikeouts and eight walks. Final Dodgers batting average against Jaster: .157.

Comments by Dodgers hitters at the time underscored their bafflement. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t hit him--it’s weird,” said second baseman Jim Lefebvre (2 for 14). Shortstop Maury Wills (2 for 15) said, “I can’t understand it.” Other Dodgers regulars included Willie Davis, Tommy Davis, Lou Johnson, Ron Fairly, Wes Parker, John Kennedy and John Roseboro.

Jaster’s dominance came as a surprise; he was technically a rookie (although he won three games during a September 1965 call-up). He was the fifth starter on a staff featuring future Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton, as well as Nelson Briles and Ray Washburn.

In fact, Jaster was sent down to Class AAA Tulsa for six weeks between his first and second starts against the Dodgers. But the demotion was more a matter of numbers than a reflection on Jaster’s above-average fastball, curve and change-up.

The first shutout, April 25 at Dodger Stadium, was a 2-0 decision over Claude Osteen. The Dodgers managed seven hits, leadoff hitter Willie Davis getting two. Jaster next blanked them July 3 at Dodger Stadium, allowing three hits in another 2-0 decision, this time over Don Drysdale.

On July 29, Jaster tossed a five-hitter at Busch Stadium, winning 4-0 over Drysdale. The fourth shutout, August 19 at Dodger Stadium, was a 4-0 decision over Osteen. The final, and most dramatic whitewash, occurred September 28 at Busch Stadium. Jaster threw a four-hitter in a 2-0 victory, beating Don Sutton in a game the Dodgers badly needed to fend off a surge by the Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Jaster’s fifth shutout of the Dodgers equaled a major league mark held by four other players, two of whom did it before 1900. The Senators’ Tom Hughes did it against the Indians in 1905, and Grover Cleveland Alexander pulled it off for the Phillies against the Reds in 1916.

Now 52, Jaster looks back at his feat with a greater appreciation.

“As time goes on it’s more unbelievable to me,”

he says. “You kind of realize how many things had to go right. I had to pitch well, but there was a lot of luck involved. We had a good defense, and we kept their speed off the bases.”

The Cardinals’ defense, with Tim McCarver catching, Orlando Cepeda at first, Julian Javier at second, Dal Maxvill at short, Lou Brock in left and Curt Flood in center, was among the best in the league. The Cardinals turned a double play in each of the first two games and two in the third. The Dodgers stranded 28 runners over the five games.

“All of their base hits were singles,” Jaster says. “I can’t believe that, looking back. It was amazing because of the speed they had.”

As the innings and games passed, psychology worked in Jaster’s favor. His confidence increased, while the Dodgers began to press and overswing.

“They got frustrated,” Jaster says. “It works in your corner. I didn’t say much to antagonize them. I just tried to go at the hitter and throw strikes because I knew I had a good defense. I let them hit.”

Jaster finished the season tied for the N.L. lead in shutouts with five. Overall, he went 11-5 and posted a 3.26 ERA with six complete games in 21 starts. The Dodgers’ futility was replicated in the World Series. They scored two runs and were swept by the Baltimore Orioles, finishing with a string of 33 scoreless innings.

The next season, Jaster raised his scoreless mastery of the Dodgers to 52 2/3 innings before Jeff Torborg broke through with a sacrifice fly. His career never realized the promise of 1966, and he was out of the major leagues by 1973.

His playing days ended in 1975, and he embarked on a 20-year coaching career at high school, college and pro levels. Today, he is living in West Palm Beach, Fla., out of baseball after being released as a minor league pitching coach by the Braves.

Recently, digging through his personal memorabilia, Jaster rediscovered a letter sent him by Alexander’s widow following his fourth shutout on August 19, 1966. It reads: “Today, when I read of your feat, I recall so well, how and when the Cincinnati club finally beat Alex. An ‘extra’ was on the street in Cincinnati. As we were on our way from the game to the hotel, Alex said, ‘Well, that’s one way to make headlines.’ You don’t know what a grand man he was. He was a winner but he was a good loser, too. Good luck to you and with all my good wishes. Baseball has changed a lot since our day, and I know it isn’t easy.”

After re-reading the letter for the first time in years, Jaster said, “Well, baseball has changed a lot since my time, too.” One thing hasn’t changed: No other major leaguer has thrown five consecutive shutouts against one team.