Warren Spahn, lefthander was 82

Growing up as young passionate L.A. Dodgers fans, there were two opposing pitchers me and my buddies feared most: Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal. Baseball Musings reminds that the two grand masters faced off in 1963 and pitched 15 scoreless innings each, until Spahn finally hung a curve to Willie Mays on his 201st pitch and lost 1-0. Old time baseball.

Spahn was 43 years old then and a certified legend. He had been wounded in World War II and didn't win his first game until he was 25. Then they couldn't tear the uniform off him. He finished more than half the games he started, pitched more National League innings than anyone, won more games than every lefthander to play the game, threw more shutouts than any other NL lefty. At bat he clubbed more home runs than any pitcher ever. Soon as he was ready, the Hall of Fame had a nice throne all picked out with his name on it.

Spahn died yesterday at 82. For the record, he was 363-245 lifetime.