July 26, 1963 - Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Wally Moon (pictured) flatly predicted a National League pennant for Los Angeles this year when he appeared today at the annual baseball luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles Rotary Club at the Statler-Hilton. During a question-and-answer period, Moon was asked to compare this year’s Dodger club with the world-champion club of 1959. “The ’59 club was a fine one,” said the veteran outfielder. “There seemed to be a different hero every day, and this club is much the same. I feel very sure we’re going to win the pennant.” Maury Wills, baseball’s most notorious base thief, brought a laugh from the audience in answering a question as to which pitcher in the league is the hardest to steal on. “Warren Spahn,” said Maury, “for the simple reason he balks and gets away with it.” Pitching coach Joe Becker answered in the affirmative when asked whether he think Sandy Koufax can win 30 games this season. “Sandy’s already got 16 wins, and he has about 15 starts left. I think he can hit 30,” Becker remarked. The last major league pitcher to win 30 games was Dizzy Dean, who did it for St. Louis during the “Gashouse Gang” Cardinals’ championship season of 1934. Dizzy had a 30-7 record that year with a 2.66 ERA and won the MVP award.
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