Fifty years ago today, Cubs rookie Ken Holtzman outdueled Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax, 2-1, at Wrigley Field. That night, the part-time pitcher and full-time college student returned to the University of Illinois to resume his senior year.
That’s Bruce Garret, then 15 and a student at Champaign Central, holding the ‘WELCOME HOME CHAMP’ sign at his family’s house on Hill Street in Champaign. His sister, Roberta, (right) was dating Holtzman (seated). His dad, legendary UI fencing coach Mac Garret, had befriended the pitcher on the Illini baseball team.
Was Bruce surprised that the 20-year-old Holtzman, an 11-game winner in the MLB and fresh off a near no-hitter against a future Hall of Famer, would drive back for classes?