Imagine a pitcher who could combine Pedro Martinez's versatility, Roger Clemens' endurance and Greg Maddux's control.
That was Juan Marichal.
Marichal during his playing days with the San Francisco Giants from 1960-73, had 238 wins.
That's damn near 20 wins in every single season on average.
Marichal not only never won a Cy Young Award but also failed to receive any of the 20 votes in the Cy Young Award balloting in 1963, 1966 and 1968-seasons in which he won 25 games or more.
Marichal once pitched a 16 inning shutout against Warren Spahn. That's right, a 16 inning shoutout! The pitchers now a days can't make it past 7 innings without having their steroided joints tweaking out. Marichal had 244 complete games!
The Giants won that 16 inning game on a Willie Mays homerun in the 16th.
Of the 238 wins, Marichal had 52 shutouts... That's about every 1 outta 4 wins ended in a shoutout for Marichal.
A statue capturing Juan Marichal in his signature pitching motion will be dedicated in front of SBC Park before Saturday's 5:05 p.m. A's-Giants game.
It's hard to believe Marichal is 67 now. I remember being a kid and going to games and watching him, Mays, and McCovey play at Candlestick. I even remember pretending I was Marichal, Mays, and McCovey as a kid.
I think that tribute game maybe on ESPN this Sat., so catch it if you can... and
Rack Juan Marichal!!!
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