"In my opinion, the greatest game ever pitched was between the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Braves on July 2, 1963.
Forty-two-year-old Warren Spahn and 25-year-old Juan Marichal each went 16 innings and the game ended 1-0 on a home run by Willie Mays.
Each pitcher threw over 200 pitches.
Spahn threw 201.
Marichal threw 227.
There were seven future Hall of Fame players in that game, including Spahn and Marichal.
We will never see that again because the game won’t allow it.
But both guys were prepared to go as long as it took.
And this game was not a fluke, both pitchers won 20 games that season.
For Spahn, it was his 13th 20-win season and for Marichal, it was his first of 6.
My highest pitch count was 232 in a game against the Red Sox in 1974.
I pitched 12 innings, struck out 19, walked 10, and had a no decision.
My counter-part, Luis Tiant threw 180 pitches in 14 1/3 innings and took the loss 4-3.
We were on a 4-man rotation and pitched on 3 day’s rest.
I had 26 complete games in 1973 and 1974 and didn’t even lead the league.
Gaylord Perry had 29 in 1973 and Ferguson Jenkins had 29 in 1974."
Nolan Ryan.
Art by Graig Kreindler.