:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66686526/95482850.jpg.0.jpg)
Today’s Dodgers watch party brings us back to a pivotal contest in the 1965 World Series, Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.
The series with the Twins was tied 2-2, with home teams winning the first four games of the Fall Classic. Perhaps the most famous moment of the series so far was Sandy Koufax opting not to pitch on Yom Kippur, on October 6, the date of Game 1. That task went to Don Drysdale in the opener in Minnesota, and the Twins promptly beat them both, 8-2 in Game 1 and 5-1 in Game 2.
The Dodgers tied things up back home thanks to a Claude Osteen shutout in Game 3, and home runs by Wes Parker and Lou Johnson in Game 4, winning 7-2.
That brings us to October 11 at Dodger Stadium, with a repeat pitching matchup from Game 2 — Koufax vs. Jim Kaat, a 26-year-old lefty who won 18 games with a 2.83 ERA in a major league high 42 starts during the regular season. Kaat won that battle with a complete game, allowing only one run. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning, when Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew each delivered RBI hits against Koufax.
Koufax in four September starts at Dodger Stadium struck out 52 and allowed one run in 36 innings, with three shutouts, including a perfect game on Sept. 9 against Chicago. He posted a 1.38 ERA at home in 20 starts this season, averaging 8.5 innings per start.
The only difference in the lineup for the Dodgers between Game 2 and Game 5 is Dick Tracewski at second base, replacing eventual Rookie of the Year winner Jim Lefebvre, who bruised his heel in Game 3. Tracewski is 0-for-7 so far in this series.
As was the style of the time, the lead announcers for both teams shared the broadcast in the World Series, with Vin Scully and Twins broadcaster Ray Scott handling play-by-play for NBC.
We are going to watch this game on YouTube, beginning at 5 p.m. PT. If you happen to join us late, just move ahead in the video accordingly.
Be sure to take notes, because these two pitchers will be at it again (spoiler alert!) in Game 7, which we will watch this Saturday at 4 p.m. PT.