Aug. 19, 1970: The Dodgers were saved by a pitcher described as "23, right-handed and super cool."

Sandy Vance pitched a five-hitter to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-2. The Times' John Wiebusch, who gave Vance the "super cool"  label, said Vance wasn't Manager Walt Alston's first or even second choice to fill in as a starter. But Alston was impressed.

"He's going to be a good one," Alston said. "He has remarkable concentration and he's a much improved pitcher."

Injuries shortened Vance's career to parts of two seasons with the Dodgers.

Speaking of Alston, longtime baseball official Frank Lane predicted his eventual successor with the Dodgers' would be minor league manager Tom Lasorda.

"I don't think there's any question that when Walt Alston decides he wants to stay in Ohio that Lasorda will be the man to replace him. That is unless some other club hasn't snapped him up first."

— Keith Thursby