Unforgettable MLB All-Star Game: Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal's Epic Pitching Duel

July 2, 1963 Warren Spahn, 42, and Juan Marichal, 25, pitch, in my opinion, the most amazing pitching duel in the history of the game. They both pitched 16 innings that day. Spahn throwing 201 pitches and Marichal throwing 227. The game ends on a walk-off home run by Willie Mays with the score at 1-0. Absolutely incredible.

To address all the modern day thinking that pitchers throw harder so they can’t go as long is preposterous. With modern day training and nutrition, today’s athletes should be able to go longer. Spahn was 42 and at the end of his career throwing against Kuenn, Mays, McCovey, Cepeda and F. Alou. The idea that he wasn’t throwing as hard as he could on each pitch which would cause just as much strain as a modern day pitcher with much better conditioning is laughable. Spahn went on to win 10 more games that year and finished the season with 23 wins and a 2.60 ERA. Which just goes to show that he didn’t throw out his arm, even at 42 years old.

I’ll take the “old heads” over most of todays pitchers any day for longevity and quality.