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Through Amalfitano's eyes, history has unfolded

Joe Amalfitano is a star witness to baseball history. He didn't just see some of the game's most enduring moments in person. Amalfitano experienced them from what amounted to a front-row seat -- or even better, in most cases.

Amalfitano was a rookie with the New York Giants in 1954 when Willie Mays made his famous over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of the World Series. Seven years later, Mays borrowed a bat from Amalfitano to hit a record-tying four home runs on a Sunday afternoon at Milwaukee. Having migrated to the Cubs, Amalfitano was the next-to-last batter Sandy Koufax retired when the legendary left-hander threw his perfect game in 1965.