5 Decades Later

 Years ago I got a bunch of 2018 Big League Topps. In those packs I revealed 2 Hall of Famers, one of whom retired 52 years before the card was made, and the other 47 years before the card was made. 

    Sandy Koufax was really good, you don't need to have a brain to figure that out. He led the league in strikeouts 4 times, and had 382 K's in 1965. Koufax's career was cut short due to chronic arthritis in his left arm, the year after he won two consecutive Cy Young awards. His career would have been even more interesting if he played until he was old.

    Ernie banks was also really good. He played 1953 through most 1961 as a shortstop, but played the rest of his career until 1971 as a first-base man, due to knee problems that affected his mobility and throwing ability. Banks won 2 MVPs, led the league with intentional walk twice, and had 512 career home-runs, and had over 100 RBI in 8 seasons.

Koufax struck out Banks 3 times in his perfect game, on September 9th, 1965, a little over 60 years ago.