Marichal was born in the Dominican Republic and his family immigrated to New York City when he was a teenager. He began his professional career in the minor leagues, and soon enough, he was called up to the Giants in 1960. Marichal was an immediate success in the major leagues, and he made the All-Star team during his first three seasons in the majors. He was also the winner of the Cy Young Award in 1963.
Marichal's most noteworthy accomplishment was his remarkable consecutive innings streak of 45.2 innings pitched without allowing a run in 1963. This record still stands today. He also tossed a no-hitter in 1963, and he was a 20-game winner eight times during his career. He also won six Gold Glove Awards for his defensive prowess.
Marichal was a fierce competitor and he was known for his unorthodox delivery, though he was also a master of control. He finished his career with a 243-142 record and an ERA of 2.89. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983 and he was ranked #3 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players in 1999.
Marichal is remembered as one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, and his legacy is still celebrated today. He was a true pioneer for Latin American players in the major leagues, and his longevity and success on the mound is a testament to his talent and dedication.
⚾
Related Content
Stories, Photos, Videos, Podcasts, and Publications featuring Juan Marichal BiographyF i l t e r & S o r t Filter & Sort
2½ hours
Sep 17, 1966Sep 17, 1966
On Saturday, September 17, 1966, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the...
New York Mets vs San Francisco Giants - Radio Broadcast / On Saturday, September 17, 1966, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the New York Mets at Candlestick Park. The Giants handed the ball to their ace, Juan Marichal, while the Mets countered with Dennis Ribant. The 1966 season had been a challenging one for the Mets, who were still in the early years of their franchise and struggling to find consistent success. The Giants, on the other hand, were a more established team with a solid roster, including the legendary Willie Mays and the power-hitting first baseman Willie McCovey. As for the broader context of the season, the Baltimore Orioles were the team to beat in the American League, while the National League was being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The game started off as a pitching duel, with both Marichal and Ribant holding their respective opponents scoreless through the first three innings. The Giants broke the deadlock in the fourth, with McCovey launching a solo home run. He would add another solo shot in the fifth, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead. The Mets, however, would not go quietly. In the sixth inning, Ken Boyer and Al Luplow each hit solo home runs to cut the Giants' lead to one. Luplow would again come through in the clutch in the eighth, hitting a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.
The game remained tied until the tenth inning. Jim Hart led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to give the Giants a one-run lead. McCovey then solidified the Giants' victory with his third home run of the game, a two-run shot that sealed the 6-4 win for the Giants. The Mets' late-game rally, highlighted by Luplow's two home runs, was an exciting twist, but ultimately fell short.
In the grand scheme of the 1966 season, this game was a microcosm of the experiences of both teams. The Mets showed flashes of potential but struggled to put it all together, finishing the season in ninth place in the National League. The Giants, meanwhile, finished in second place in the National League, just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers. McCovey's three-home run performance was a highlight of his impressive season, in which he hit .295 with 36 home runs and 96 RBIs. Despite their strong season, the Giants fell short of the postseason, with the Dodgers representing the National League in the World Series against the Orioles.