Koufax is perfect in 4th no-hitter

Sept. 9, 1965: Sandy Koufax made baseball history when he pitched a perfect game to lead the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Before 29,139 fans at Dodger Stadium, he “became the first pitcher in major league history to throw four no-hit, no-run games,” The Times reported.

“Sandy Koufax is normally as modest and unassuming as Clark Kent, but even he had to agree with the scorebook, which said the game he pitched against the Chicago Cubs ... was nearly perfect,” The Times said. In fact, it was a perfect game, meaning the Cubs had no baserunners.

The Dodgers got only one hit themselves, a double by Lou Johnson off Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley. Johnson scored the only run in the game after walking, being sacrificed to second base, stealing third and charging home on an errant throw.

When asked if there wasn’t one pitch that he wanted back after he threw it, Koufax answered, “No, I don’t think so.”

“I don’t know what it was tonight,” Koufax said. “Maybe I’m just getting into shape.”

Said Chicago third baseman Ron Santo: “This guy could drive you to drink.”