Baseball legend Bobby Hendley visits sports journalism class

Sept. 9 is anniversary

Knox Cleveland and William McCormack|September 9, 2020

Former Stratford baseball coach Bobby Hendley speaks with Gazebo sports staff at Bubber Adams Stadium/Bobby Hendley Field

 

The anniversary of what has been called “the greatest game ever pitched by two pitchers” between Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the legendary Bobby Hendley of the Chicago Cubs is on September 9. 

Unfortunately for Hendley, a baseball coach at Stratford for 18 years, came up just short, letting up a hit in the final inning of the game in 1965 played in Los Angeles. It is the only one-hit game in major league history and is commemorated in an exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

“If you’re gonna get beat, get beat by the best and get beat by class,” Coach Hendley said.

Hendley visited Stratford’s sports journalism class on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Hendley, who graduated from Macon’s Lanier (now Central) High School, pitched seven seasons in the major leagues with the Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.

He played with such baseball legends as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and Willie Mays.

Hendley, left, threw a one-hitter and lost to Dodger great Sandy Koufax, who pitched a perfect game (Gazebo Photo by Courtesy Major League Baseball)