The Futility Infielder

Via Tom Gorman and Rob McMillan comes this gem, an MP3 of Vin Scully calling the 9th inning of Sandy Koufax's perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965. In that final frame, Koufax strikes out Chris Krug, Joey Amalfitano and Harvey Kuenn, the latter his sixth K in a row and 14th on the night. It was the eighth perfect game in major league history.

The great Dodger announcer Scully, who had already called three other no-no's by Koufax, handles the call with a brilliance that rivals the hurler's. Calling out the time on the clock with an obvious eye towards the history, he somehow elevates a moment that needs no elevation -- like a pool of melted butter atop a perfectly cooked filet. Heard nearly forty years later, his voice remains instantly familiar, his cadence every bit as graceful as it ever was. Timeless.

This recording was done by Hugh Smith of Escondido, California for his son Dave, who only went on to found the Retrosheet website (see comment). Most famously, Jane Leavy transcribed much of Scully's narration in her fine biography, Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy, reconstructing the entirety of the game through the tape and a long-forgotten filmstrip done by Dodger trainer Bill Buhler. It's an amazing piece of history, so do yourself a favor and get a bite of perfection in the making.