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It was one of the best days of the year.

Ken Holtzman was pitching in the big leagues for the Cubs at age 19. The next year, 1966, he matched up against Sandy Koufax in what was billed as “The Battle of the Jewish Lefties” and nearly no-hit the pennant-winning Dodgers on September 25, allowing just one walk and facing the minimum through eight innings, settling for a 2-1, two-hit complete-game win.

He threw a couple of two-hitters in 1968 and another one...

Continue Reading Today in 1969 Cubs history: Ken Holtzman throws a no-hitter