Dynamic Duo

If one had two games to cop for Series enchalada

he wouldn't pre-chill champagne starting Fisher and Estrada.

If, mythically, one's bonus hinged on two wins without fail

the best-matched mates to work them would be be Koufax and Drysdale.

A hometown Brooklyn bonus babe in 1955,

Sanford had a Mungo fastball- smoking and alive.

Except that Van's was like a prop compared to Sandy's jet,

but whether it hit catcher's mitt was anybody's bet.

Koufax was an in-and-outer for some time to come;

for 5 years he pitched part-time and got nothing much but glum.

Lanky Donald truly had a lot more on the ball

(and some of it was illegal, which marked him high for gall).

He made the Brooks from Montreal-before that Santa Barb

(where some knew less about their craft than cleaning out a carb).

With 17 in '57, Don knew how to pitch

(his persuader made the batters catch that footloose itch).

In '61, the puzzle fit and Sandy won 18

with hummer that was more controlled, though maybe not as mean.

From then thru '66, he was an automated gent;

just wind him up and he would win 75 per cent.

Koufax threw 4 no-hit games and garnered lots of k's

before he shelved arthritic wing, to learn announcer's ways.

Drysdale garnered 25 in 1962

(the year the Giants at the end keelhauled the Dodger Blue).

In '68 his greaseball made most rival batters quake

(he set the scoreless inning mark that Hersheiser would break).

The next year, after Don's right arm had played its final note,

he stole a page from Sandy's book and pitched with just his throat.

Historians chant pitching partners of antiquity;

Young and Stivetts, Pennock-Hoyt, BIG SIX-McGinnity.

If you like trips, try Feller, Lemon, and Mike Garcia

who could have taunted rival batters:"Wouldn't wanna be ya!"

Yankees had a trio in the fifties that was flashy;

old eyes gleam at mention of Lopat, Reynolds and Raschi.

And how 'bout quads? There's Faber, Williams, Kerr and Cicotte-

Dobson, Palmer, Cuellar, and one David McNally.

Pick any tandem from above or two who fell thru cracks;

I'll pencil in nightrider Don and Sandy (Braun) Koufax.

dan gray taylor, jr.