Remembering Ron Fairly

Ron Fairly, a fine player on 3 Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series winning teams, who died recently at the age of 81, contributed mightily to one of my best days/times ever, the team’s 1965 World Series triumph.

Obituaries for Mr. Fairly have noted his hitting prowess (.379 batting average, 6 rbis) in that excellent Fall Classic between the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, but not the specific in game 7.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when, somewhat incredibly, on 3 consecutive pitches, the Dodgers had the game’s only 2 runs and an eventual title, behind a Sandy Koufax shutout, pitching with just 2 days rest.

After Lou Johnson, as was the case with Howie Kendrick these 54 years later in the ’19 World Series, hit a go ahead to stay, home run in THE game (#7/World Series), that hit the foul pole, Ron Fairly doubled. Wes Parker’s single scored Fairly.

I recall a nice article about Fairly, by Maury Allen, when as a member of the 1977 expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays, Ron made the All Star team, for the game played that year in Yankee Stadium.

Fairly was on Dodgers’ World Series winners in 1959, 1963 and 1965 and the pennant winning team, that lost 4 straight games to the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.

He was part of great baseball on “my” then team, at a very different, dare I say better time. Fond memories regarding Mr. Fairly abound!

Willie Davis (#3) and Ron Fairly (#6) congratulate Sandy Koufax after his perfect game vs the Chicago Cubs, whose pitcher Bob Hendley was brilliant in defeat, on September 9, 1965. (I really would like to know the other 3 that are pictured. Anyone?)