Nobody’s Perfect, but He Came Darn Close

Reader Darrell Pash, paying tribute to former major league pitcher Ken Brett, who died recently, e-mailed, saying the best game he ever saw was a high school playoff game between Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos and El Segundo in the 1960s. It matched 6-foot-7 Wendell Kallenberger of Rancho Alamitos and Brett of El Segundo on the mound.

Pash said Brett pitched a perfect game, struck out every batter he faced and had the game’s lone hit, a home run that gave El Segundo a 1-0 victory.

It sounded too good to be true, and it was. John Stevenson, now in his 44th year as El Segundo’s baseball coach, dug out a scorebook from 1966 and found that Brett had pitched a no-hitter, struck out 12, walked four, and hit a three-run homer in a 3-0 win. Brett also had a triple.

Still pretty good.

More on Brett: His brother Bobby says he remembers a Babe Ruth League championship game in which Ken struck out 14 consecutive batters.

Trivia time: Who is the only major leaguer to have won batting titles in three decades?

Rational viewpoint: John Rohde of the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, under the headline “There’s Nothing Wrong With Split National Title,” wrote:

“Southern Cal sympathizers who are hyperventilating over the BCS need to take a deep breath. The Trojans still control their own destiny. Beat the Wolverines, and USC claims a national crown.”

Rohde’s logic? “Few can argue the AP poll carries far more weight than the coaches’ poll.”

Wake-up call: “Dan Reeves has been fired as coach of the Atlanta Falcons with three games left in the season,” says comedian Jerry Perisho. “In San Diego, management said, ‘Hey, wait a minute, you can do that?’ ”

Another Wilt story: Reader Hugh McTernan e-mailed, saying he once witnessed Wilt Chamberlain’s softer side at the “long-gone Cock and Bull.”

Chamberlain entered the restaurant in shorts and an undershirt.

McTernan: “Since I had had a few pops, I eventually had the nerve to tell him this place has a dress code -- shirt, tie and jacket. Wilt turned around and said, ‘Why didn’t someone say something?’ He then went over to the owner and apologized.”

Late-night fodder: “What’s the difference between Aerosmith and the Oakland Raiders?” asked Jay Leno.

“Aerosmith will be playing at the Super Bowl.”

As for Bill Callahan’s calling his team the dumbest in America, Leno said, “They’re not dumb. Maybe they’re just senile.”

Trivia answer: George Brett

And finally: Tom Arnold, in a “Things you wouldn’t say to ... “ segment on “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” directed these comments at Reeves:

* “Hey, Dan, don’t worry. Mr. Blank still has a job for you. Report to Home Depot first thing Monday morning.”

* “Hey, Dan, look on the bright side -- at least you won’t be the losing Super Bowl coach.”

*

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.