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One More Fastball
Marichal vs. Clemente
by Ted
This is my recollection of Juan Marichal pitching to Roberto Clemente, about 1970, when Juan had lost his fearsome fastball but still effective relying on location and movement. JM pitched so carefully to the dangerous Clemente with sliders, curves, changes, screwballs with deliveries coming from all angles, side arm, over the top, 3 quarters, inside, outside, up and down. Clemente refused to bite, fouled off close ones and waited for his pitch. Then is was a 3-2 count, everyone in the stadium it seemed, Clemente, me and the rest trying to figure out what was next? Another curve, change, screwball, what could be next? Certainly Clemente would time one of these breaking balls and hammer it... Marichal kicked high and came with the unexpected - a high hard one. Clemente was suprised, swung late and missed - never had a chance. The crowd roared, while not the heat he once had Marichal fooled everyone and delighting the home fans; he challenged the great Clemente with his best fastball and got his man.
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Posted September 9, 2005.
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