A Juan-derful debut

Future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal makes his major league debut 64 years ago today with a one-hitter as the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 before a Tuesday night crowd of 13,279 at Candlestick Park.

The only hit he allows is a single to center by pinch-hitter Clay Dalrymple with two outs in the eighth inning.

The magnificent Marichal, seen here through the lens of equally magnificent photographer Walter Iooss Jr. in a 1961 game at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium, ends up with 12 strikeouts in his first game while becoming the first National League pitcher in 50 years to throw a one-hitter in his debut.

Marichal goes on to become the major leagues’ best pitcher of the 1960s not named Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson.

He spends 16 seasons in the majors, winning 243 games with 191 of those victories coming between his debut in 1960 through the end of the decade.

Marichal also wins at least 21 games in six of seven seasons from 1963-69 and completes 164 of 246 starts during that time. He eventually reaches the Hall of Fame in 1984.