Dodgers Blue Heaven: 2020 Topps Now 'Turn Back the Clock' -- Sandy Koukax's First No-No

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

2020 Topps Now 'Turn Back the Clock' -- Sandy Koukax's First No-No

Today's Topps Turn Back the Clock online exclusive card should be of no surprise. It features a legendary Dodger doing something legendary.

On this date in 1962 Sandy Koufax threw his very first no-hitter. It was against the Mets, and from the get-go he dominated. What I mean by that is he let it be known during the first inning that he would be unhittable. Per Marc Z. Aaron at SABR:

Koufax (10-4, 2.48 ERA) did not waste any time in getting down to business. Nine pitches were all he needed to set down the first three Mets hitters — Richie Ashburn, Rod Kanehl, and Felix Mantilla — on strikes. Mantilla took his looking. You could have heard each of them muttering some expletives as they left the batter’s box. As Koufax walked to the dugout, he received a standing ovation from the fans behind the Dodgers dugout. Mets third-base coach Solly Hemus was good-naturedly needling Koufax, yelling, “It isn’t really that easy, is it?” Koufax could be heard responding, “No, it surely isn’t.”

Go here to check this card out and to order. Here's a link to the boxscore. Below is what it says on the reverse:

June 30, 1962 -- Sandy came out firing against the Mets, retiring the first three batter on strike on just nine pitches. The Immaculate opening frame set the tone fot a historic evening for the left-hander, as the 26-year-old twirled a no-hitter. Koufax kept the Mets off-balance all game long, striking out 13 batters and leading the Dodgers to a 5-0 win.

Below is a checklist of Dodgers-related 2020 Topps Now 'Turn Back the Clock' cards. I include the card number, date of the event highlighted and its print run. You can also see a complete checklist of this set here.