Baseball’s biggest thrill often isn’t a home run or a wild play in the field. Sometimes it’s when two pitchers bring their A-game, stare each other down, and fight pitch-for-pitch. These moments, called pitching duels, happen when two very good or great pitchers face off and neither gives much away.
In Major League Baseball history, there have been a handful of games that stand out above all others, where both starters were locked in, and the margin between win and loss was razor-thin. In this article, we look at three of the greatest duels in MLB history.
The 16-Inning Classic: Juan Marichal vs. Warren Spahn (July 2, 1963)
On July 2, 1963, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the Giants’ young fireballer Juan Marichal (age 25) and the veteran lefty Warren Spahn (age 42) of the Milwaukee Braves faced off in what many consider the greatest pitching duel ever. Both pitchers went the distance: Marichal threw all 16 innings, while Spahn pitched 15.1 innings.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 16th, when the legendary Willie Mays stepped up and hit a walk-off home run for the Giants, 1-0. Marichal threw an incredible 227 pitches. Spahn threw 201. The game lasted more than four hours, stretching past midnight. Baseball legend Hank Aaron later called it “the finest exhibition of throwing I’ve ever seen.”
Why This Duel is Special:
It shows almost superhuman endurance from both pitchers in an era when starters often stayed deep into games. It featured two Hall of Famers on opposite sides, giving everything they had. The margin of victory, a single run from a future Hall of Famer, makes it timeless.
It also stands as a relic of a different baseball era, when the concept of a bullpen game didn’t exist. This duel remains the gold standard for pitcher matchups in MLB history.
The Perfect Game Duel: Sandy Koufax vs. Bob Hendley (September 9, 1965)
On September 9, 1965, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-hander Sandy Koufax faced the Chicago Cubs’ Bob Hendley at Dodger Stadium. What made this duel incredible was how close to perfect both men were. Koufax pitched a perfect game, 27 batters faced, 27 outs, no hits, no walks, while Hendley allowed only one hit and still lost 1–0.
Koufax struck out 14 batters that night, completely dominating with his fastball and curve. Hendley gave up just one hit, and the lone run was unearned. It came after a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a stolen base, and a throwing error in the fifth inning. Hendley’s performance would have been enough to win almost any other game, but on that night, Koufax was flawless.
Why This Duel Matters:
It pitted two pitchers at elite levels, one achieving perfection, the other nearly matching it. It highlighted just how fine the margins in baseball can be, Hendley’s near-perfect outing became a loss by the slimmest of chances. Fans rarely see such pure pitching brilliance from both sides. This duel remains one of the most statistically and emotionally perfect games in MLB history.
The World Series Showdown: Jack Morris vs. John Smoltz (Game 7, October 27, 1991)
In the ultimate pressure moment, Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, the Minnesota Twins faced the Atlanta Braves. Jack Morris of the Twins and John Smoltz of the Braves met in one of the greatest pitching duels ever played in a postseason clincher.
The game stayed scoreless through nine innings. Morris pitched 10 innings, giving up 7 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, and striking out 8. He threw 122 pitches in total. Note: historical sources report slightly different pitch totals for Morris’s Game 7, some list 122 pitches, while others list 126, both figures are widely accepted.
Smoltz pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball before turning it over to the bullpen. In the bottom of the 10th, Gene Larkin hit a single that drove in the winning run, giving the Twins a 1–0 victory and the championship.
Why This Duel Counts Among the Greatest:
It happened on the biggest stage, a World Series Game 7, where every pitch mattered. Both starters, who would later enter the Hall of Fame, rose to the occasion. Complete games of 10 innings in the postseason are virtually unheard of today. It’s one of the most iconic low-scoring classics in baseball history, where endurance and nerves of steel defined the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What qualifies as a “pitching duel”?
A: It’s a game where both starters are effective, giving up few runs or baserunners, and the outcome is closely contested, often decided by one run or less. The pitchers usually stay in for several innings, and neither offense takes control.
Q: Are there other famous pitching duels?
A: Yes, plenty. There have been great duels across decades, from Bob Gibson’s dominance in the 1960s to Madison Bumgarner’s shutout efforts in the 2010s. But the ones highlighted here are the most legendary because of the stakes, the performances, and how evenly matched the pitchers were.
Q: Why don’t we see duels like these anymore?
A: Modern baseball relies heavily on pitch counts, specialized relievers, and bullpen management. Complete games are now rare, and teams often remove starters after around 100 pitches to preserve long-term health. Analytics have changed how managers view risk, so marathon duels like those from the 1960s and 1990s are a thing of the past.
Q: Which duel is considered the greatest of all time?
A: While opinions vary, many baseball historians and players rank the Marichal–Spahn game of 1963 at the top. Both pitchers went more than 15 innings without giving up a run, and the only score came on a walk-off homer by Willie Mays, a near-mythic ending to an unmatched endurance contest.
Q: How do fans remember these games today?
A: Through box scores, documentaries, anniversary features, and highlight reels that preserve the drama. These duels have become a cherished part of baseball’s storytelling tradition, reminders of when starters carried entire games on their shoulders and the outcome rested solely on who blinked first.
Conclusion
- Pitching duels show that baseball is about finesse, endurance, and mental strength, not just power hitting.
- When two great pitchers face off and neither gives ground, the game becomes a special test of patience, skill, and willpower.
- The three matchups, Marichal vs. Spahn (1963), Koufax vs. Hendley (1965), and Morris vs. Smoltz (1991), stand out for performance, storylines, and stakes.
- These duels define the word “classic” and remain benchmarks for pitching excellence.
- As baseball changes, true duels are becoming rarer, but their legacy continues to inspire both players and fans.
- When the scoreboard stays frozen and one swing decides everything, it’s baseball at its purest form.
- These timeless games prove that sometimes, the biggest drama happens when almost nothing happens at all.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
