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Sandy Koufax

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Sandy Koufax
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Koufax, 1966
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Koufax, 1966 (credit: AP)
(born Dec. 30, 1935, New York, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. baseball pitcher. Koufax's mother divorced when he was young, and he took the name of his stepfather. In his youth he played sports at the Jewish community centres in his native Brooklyn, and in high school he was known more as a basketball player than as a baseball player. He attended the University of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship before joining the Brooklyn (later Los Angeles) Dodgers in 1955 as a left-handed thrower with a blazing fastball and a sharp breaking curveball. Once he gained control of his pitches he set several season records for strikeouts (including 382 in 1965), and his career average of one strikeout per inning is a rare accomplishment. In 1965 he pitched his fourth no-hit game, until 1981 a major-league record; the fourth no-hitter was also a perfect game (no player reached first base). Despite his early retirement in 1966 because of arthritis, he is regarded as one of baseball's greatest pitchers.

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Biography: Sandy Koufax
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Biographies

Many consider Sandy Koufax (born 1935) to be one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time. He had six exemplary seasons in the 1960s. After a slow start, his baseball career was cut short by problems with his pitching arm. Still, his accomplishments on the field led to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Koufax was born Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Jack (a salesman) and Evelyn (an accountant) Braun. His parents divorced when Koufax was three years old. Six years later, his mother married Irving Koufax, an attorney. Jack Braun had also remarried, and soon stopped calling his son and paying child support. Koufax took his stepfather's name. Irving Koufax encouraged his stepson in all pursuits, including baseball and other sports.

Koufax preferred basketball to baseball as a youth. When he did play the latter, in sandlot games or in Brooklyn's so-called "Ice Cream League," he was usually the first baseman. He did not pitch his first game until he was 15 years old. Koufax spent much of his time playing basketball at the Jewish Community House. While attending Lafayette High School, a coach tried to convince Koufax to play football as well, but Koufax was not interested.

After graduation, Koufax entered the University of Cincinnati, studying architecture on a basketball scholarship. During his first year, he averaged ten points a game. He also tried out for the school's baseball team on a whim. In 32 innings pitched, Koufax struck out 51 hitters. His tenure at Cincinnati was brief, only a year or two. As early as high school, he had been scouted, initially by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and later the Dodgers and Milwaukee's team.

Became a Dodger

In 1954, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed the 19-year-old Koufax to a contract worth about $20,000, with a $14,000 bonus. Roger Khan of the Los Angeles Times quoted Al Campanis, who worked in the front office of the Dodgers organization, as saying, "Only two times in my life has the hair literally stood up on the back of my neck. Once was when I saw Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel. The other time was when I first saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball." Because of the bonus, league rules dictated that Koufax had to stay on the Dodgers roster for at least two years. Thus, Koufax never played in the minor leagues, but had to develop in the spotlight of the majors.

This situation was difficult because Koufax was a very wild pitcher. While he threw the ball hard and had a speedy fastball, he often lacked control. When he did have control of his pitches, it was inconsistent. It was said that left-handed pitchers took longer to develop, but some speculated that Koufax might have had a confidence problem as well. Koufax admitted he was initially in awe of his team-mates. In his first two seasons with the Dodgers, 1955-56, Koufax only appeared in 28 games, posting a record of four wins and six loses. Though he won only two games each season, he showed flashes of his future brilliance. In one 1955 game, his second career start, Koufax threw a two-hit shutout. Koufax threw the ball hard in that game, and believed that he had to throw it that way for it to work. This belief hindered his development for six years.

During the 1957 season, Koufax pitched more often and turned his first winning season record, five wins and four losses. He pitched a total of 104 2/3 innings. After the season ended, Koufax remained with the Dodgers when they moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. He continued to be used in more games and demonstrated enough talent that the Dodgers did not give up on him. He posted an 11-11 record on the season. This trend continued in 1959. Koufax tied the new major league record for most strikeouts in a two-game period with 31, 13 in one, than 18 against the San Francisco Giants. Though the Dodgers went on to win the World Series against the Chicago White Sox, Koufax lost in the one game he pitched, 1-0.

Koufax's 1960 season was a similar combination of highs and lows. Though his record was eight wins and 13 losses, he struck out 197 batters in 175 innings. He was disappointed with himself, and was not sure if the Dodgers would keep him on the team, for good reason. In his first six seasons, his record was only 36-40. In the 691 2/3 innings he pitched, he struck out 684 and walked 405. He told Joseph Durso of The New York Times, "I have a terrible temper. After the final game that season, I threw all my baseball stuff away, left the clubhouse and didn't think I'd ever come back. I even went into business, but wasn't crazy about it. Then I decided I hadn't worked hard enough, so next spring I reported to Vero Beach. Our clubhouse man, Nobe Kawano, handed me the gear and said, 'I took all your stuff out of the garbage."'

Learned to Control Pitches

Before the beginning of the 1961 season, Koufax talked to his team's general manager, Buzzie Bavasi, and asked that he be allowed to pitch on a more regular basis. Koufax believed that if he had too many days off in between starts, it was detrimental to his arm. Bavasi granted his request, and Koufax finally learned to control his fastball, in part because of advice from catcher Norm Sherry. During a game with the Chicago White Sox, Koufax got himself into trouble, with the bases loaded and nobody out. Sherry told him that he would have better control if he eased up on the ball and did not always throw it so hard. Koufax followed Sherry's advice, and got the next three batters out. With the help of Sherry and a pitching coach, Koufax also developed a strong curveball and a change-up, though he did not have complete confidence in the latter. As Bruce Jenkins of The San Francisco Chronicle wrote "Koufax had the greatest fastball of his day (maybe ever) and the best curveball. He didn't need anything else." Koufax's career was transformed.

Beginning in 1961, Koufax was chosen to play in the All-Star game every year until the end of his career. He also led the league in at least one category each season. In 1961, Koufax posted an 18-13 record, and led the league in strikeouts with 269, a new record. Beginning in 1962, through his retirement in 1966, Koufax had the league's best earned run average (ERA) and pitched at least one shutout per year. In 1962, his ERA was 2.54, and he posted a record of 14-7, striking out 216 batters in 184 1/3 innings. However Koufax did not pitch for half of the season because he developed circulatory problems in his pitching arm he after a wild pitch had accidentally hit him. This injury would eventually shorten his career.

Koufax had a dominant season in 1963, and had much to show for it. He led the league in wins, with a 25-5 record; ERA, with 1.88; strikeouts, with 306; and shutouts, with 11. The Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees. Koufax pitched two complete games, winning them both by allowing only 12 and 3 earned runs. He set a record by striking out 23 batters in 18 innings. For his season, Koufax was named the National League's Most Valuable Player. He also won the Cy Young Award, given to the league's best pitcher.

In 1964, Koufax had a shortened season due to another injury to his pitching arm, which led to chronic arthritis. Koufax would spend the rest of his career in pain, pitching only after he had received cortisone shots. Despite missing the last month of the season, Koufax had a 19-5 record, had the league's best ERA (1.74) and winning percentage (.792), and led the league in shutouts, with seven. Koufax posted similar numbers in 1965. With a record of 26-8, he had the league's best ERA (2.04) and set a new record with 382 strikeouts. Koufax also won his second Cy Young Award. But these were not Koufax's best accomplishments of the season.

Refused to Pitchon Yom Kippur

Koufax pitched a perfect game on September 9, 1965. He retired all 27 batters, the last six on strikeouts. Koufax told Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times, "Earlier in the game, I didn't have great stuff. I was just getting people out. But the last two innings were probably as good as I ever pitched." This game was later named one the best moments in the history of the Dodgers by its fans.

Koufax became a hero to many of his fellow Jews by refusing to pitch in the first game of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins because it fell on Yom Kippur, the high holy day. Koufax was criticized by some because the Dodgers lost that game. However, he went on to pitch in three of the next six games. He lost the first, but won the last two, including the deciding seventh game, 2-0.

At the beginning of the 1966 season, Koufax and another Dodgers pitcher, Don Drysdale, held out at the beginning of the season for several weeks in a salary dispute. They hired an agent to negotiate for them, which was unheard of at the time. This marked the beginning of a trend in Major League baseball because it worked for them. Koufax signed a contract worth $130,000 for the season, a big salary in that era. He earned his pay by posting a 27-9 record. He led the league in strikeouts (317), had the league's best ERA (1.73), and won his third Cy Young Award. The Dodgers appeared in the World Series again, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Koufax pitched in one game, and lost.

Retired at Age 30

Koufax thought he might retire all season long, and did so after the conclusion of the 1966 season. He did not want to risk permanent damage because of his injuries. According to Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times, at the time he said, "I've got a lot of years to live after baseball. And I would like to live them with complete use of my body." His teammates were unprepared for the announcement because Koufax had not told them in advance. He was known throughout his career for being rather aloof. In retirement, Koufax would guard his privacy even more. He moved to Maine, using that as his home base for many years. To make a living, Koufax signed a ten-year contract with NBC to be a baseball broadcaster in 1966. While was good at the job, he was not always comfortable on camera. He quit before the start of the 1973 season.

Baseball had not forgotten Koufax's contributions. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in the first year that he became eligible. At 36 years of age, he was the youngest inductee, and one of only six to be elected in their first year of eligibility. Koufax remained close to the game by serving as a guest pitching coach in various training camps, including the Dodgers and New York Mets. He also spent 11 years, 1979-90, working as a roving minor league pitching instructor in the Dodgers' system.

Koufax enjoyed his anonymity. He was twice married, first to Anne Widmark, daughter of the famous actor, Richard Widmark. They divorced in the early 1980s. He was remarried to a woman named Kim, but they also were divorced in the late 1990s. Of his life and career, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated wrote, "Koufax was the kind of man boys idolized, men envied, women swooned over and rabbis thanked, especially when he refused to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. And when he was suddenly, tragically done with baseball, he slipped into a life nearly monastic in its privacy."

Further Reading

American Jewish Biographies, Lakeville Press, 1982.

The Ballplayers: Baseball's Ultimate Biographical Reference, edited by Mike Shatzkin, Arbor House/William Morrow, 1990.

Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Baseball, edited by David L. Porter, Greenwood Press, 1987.

Hickok, Ralph, The Encyclopedia of North American Sports History, Facts on File, 1992.

Hickok, Ralph, A Who's Who of Sports Champions: Their Records and Stories, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1995.

Karst, Gene, and Martin J. Jones, Jr., Who's Who in Professional Baseball, Arlington House, 1973.

Light, Jonathon Frasier, The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, McFarland and Company, Inc., 1997.

Who's Who in America 1999, Marquis Who's Who, 1998.

Denver Post, May 2, 1999.

Los Angeles Times, September 9, 1990; July 15, 1999; October 25, 1999.

New York Times, August 23, 1980; May 7, 1988.

San Francisco Chronicle, October 30, 1999.

Sports Illustrated, April 25, 1994; July 12, 1999.

Wikipedia: Sandy Koufax
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Sandy Koufax

Pitcher
Born: December 30, 1935 (1935-12-30) (age 73)
Brooklyn, New York
Batted: Right Threw: Left 
MLB debut
June 24, 1955 for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1966 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Career statistics
Win-Loss record     165–87
Earned run average     2.76
Strikeouts     2,396
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Empty Star.svg Empty Star.svg Empty Star.svg Baseball Hall of Fame Empty Star.svg Empty Star.svg Empty Star.svg
Induction     1972
Vote     86.87% (first ballot)

Sanford "Sandy" Koufax (pronounced /ˈkoʊfæks/) (born Sanford Braun, on December 30, 1935) is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding seasons from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis ended his career at age 30. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1963. He also won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, all during the period when only one pitcher was chosen per season, making him the first 3-time Cy Young winner in baseball history. In each of his Cy Young seasons, Koufax won the pitcher's triple crown by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. Koufax's totals would also have led the American League in those seasons.[1][2]

Koufax was the first major leaguer to pitch four no-hitters (including a perfect game). Despite his comparatively short career, Koufax's 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in history as of his retirement, trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers. Retiring at the peak of his career, he became, at age 36 and 20 days, the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame.[3]

Koufax is also remembered as one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in American sports. His decision not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur garnered national attention as an example of conflict between social pressures and personal beliefs.[4]

Contents

Early life

Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Borough Park.[5] His parents, Evelyn and Jack Braun, divorced when he was three years old; his mother remarried when he was nine, to Irving Koufax.[6] Shortly after his mother's remarriage, the family moved to the Long Island suburb of Rockville Centre. Before tenth grade, Koufax's family moved back to the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.[7]

Koufax attended Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, where he was better known for basketball than for baseball. At the time, school sports were not available because New York's teachers were refusing to supervise extracurricular activities without monetary compensation. As an alternative, Koufax started playing basketball for a local Jewish Community Center team. Eventually, Lafayette had a basketball team; Koufax became team captain in his senior year, and ranked second in his division in scoring, with 165 points in 10 games.[5][8]

In 1951, at the age of 15, Koufax also joined a local youth baseball league known as the "Ice Cream League". He started out as a left-handed catcher, before moving to first base. While playing first base for Lafayette High School's baseball team, he was spotted by Milt Laurie, the father of two Lafayette teammates and a baseball coach. Laurie recognized that Koufax might be able to pitch, and recruited the 17-year old Koufax to pitch for the Coney Island Sports League's Parkviews.[9]

Koufax attended the University of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship.[6] In spring 1954, he made the college baseball varsity team.[10] That season, Koufax went 3–1 with 51 strikeouts and 30 walks, in 31 innings.[11] Bill Zinser, a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, sent the Dodgers front office a glowing report that apparently was filed and forgotten.[12]

After trying out with the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds,[13] Koufax did the same for the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.[14] During his Pirates tryout, Koufax's fastball broke the thumb of Sam Narron, the team's bullpen coach. Branch Rickey, then the general manager of the Pirates, told his scout Clyde Sukeforth that Koufax had the "greatest arm [he had] ever seen".[15] The Pirates, however, failed to offer Koufax a contract until after he was already committed to the Dodgers.[16]

Dodgers scout Al Campanis heard about Koufax from a local sporting goods store owner. After seeing Koufax pitch for Lafayette, Campanis invited him to an Ebbets Field tryout. With Dodgers manager Walter Alston and scouting director Fresco Thompson watching, Campanis assumed the hitter's stance while Koufax started throwing. Campanis later said, "There are two times in my life the hair on my arms has stood up: The first time I saw the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the first time I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball."[17] The Dodgers signed Koufax for a $6,000 ($47,568 in current dollar terms) salary, with a $14,000 ($110,991 in current dollar terms) signing bonus. Koufax planned to use the signing bonus as tuition to finish his university education, if his baseball career failed.[18]

Professional career

Early years (1955–60)

Because Koufax's signing bonus was greater than $4,000 ($31,712 in current dollar terms), he was known as a bonus baby. This forced the Dodgers to keep him on the major league roster for at least two years before he could be sent to the minors. To make room for him, the Dodgers optioned their future manager, Tommy Lasorda, to the Montreal Royals of the International League. Lasorda would later joke that it took Sandy Koufax to keep him off the Dodger pitching staff.[19]

Koufax made his major league debut on June 24 1955 against the Milwaukee Braves, with the Dodgers trailing 7–1 in the fifth inning. Johnny Logan, the first batter Koufax faced, hit a bloop single. Eddie Mathews bunted, but Koufax threw the ball into center field. Koufax walked Hank Aaron on four pitches to load the bases, then struck out Bobby Thomson on a full count.[20]

Koufax's first start was on July 6. He lasted only 4 ⅔ innings, giving up eight walks.[21] He did not start again for almost two months, but on August 27, Koufax threw a two-hit, 7–0 complete game shutout against the Cincinnati Reds for his first major league win.[22] Koufax made only 12 appearances in 1955, pitching 41.7 innings and walking almost as many men (28) as he struck out (30). His only other win in 1955 was also a shutout.[23]

During the fall, he enrolled in the Columbia University School of General Studies, which offered night classes in architecture. The Dodgers won the 1955 World Series for the first title in franchise history, but Koufax did not appear in the series. After the final out of Game Seven, Koufax drove to Columbia to attend class.[24]

1956 wasn't very different from 1955 for Koufax. Despite the blazing speed of his fastball, Koufax continued to struggle with control problems. He saw little work, pitching only 58.7 innings with a 4.91 ERA, walking 29 and striking out 30. He was rarely allowed to work out of a jam. As soon as Koufax threw a couple of balls in a row, Alston would signal for a replacement to start warming up in the bullpen. Jackie Robinson, in his final season, clashed with Alston on several different subjects, including Koufax. Robinson saw that Koufax was talented and had flashes of brilliance, and objected to Koufax being benched for weeks at a time.[25]

To prepare for the 1957 season, the Dodgers sent Koufax to Puerto Rico to play winter ball. On May 15, the restriction on sending Koufax down to the minors was lifted. Alston gave him a chance to justify his place on the major league roster by giving him the next day's start. Facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Koufax struck out 13 while pitching his first complete game in almost two years. For the first time in his career, he was in the starting rotation, but only for two weeks. Despite winning three of his next five with a 2.90 ERA, Koufax didn't get another start for 45 days. In that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got a no-decision. On September 29, Koufax became the last man ever to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, by throwing an inning of relief in the final game of the season.[26]

Over the next three seasons, Koufax was in and out of the Dodger starting rotation due to injuries. In 1958, he began 7–3, but sprained his ankle in a collision at first base, finishing the season at 11–11 and leading the NL in wild pitches. In June 1959, Koufax set the record for a night game with 16 strikeouts. On August 31, 1959, he surpassed his career high with 18 strikeouts, setting the NL record and tying Bob Feller's major league record for strikeouts in one game.[27]

In 1959, the Dodgers won a close pennant race against the Braves and the Giants, then beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Koufax pitched two perfect relief innings in the Series opener, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 11–0. Alston gave him the start in the fifth game, at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 92,706 fans. Koufax allowed only one run in seven innings, but lost the 1–0 game when Nellie Fox scored on a double play. Returning to Chicago, the Dodgers won the sixth game and the Series.[28]

In early 1960, Koufax asked Dodgers GM Buzzie Bavasi to trade him because he wasn't getting enough playing time. By the end of 1960, after going 8–13, Koufax was thinking about quitting baseball to devote himself to an electronics business that he'd invested in. After the last game of the season, he threw his gloves and spikes into the trash. Nobe Kawano, the clubhouse supervisor, retrieved the equipment to return to Koufax the following year (or to somebody else if Koufax did not return to play).[29]

Domination (1961–64)

1961 season

Koufax decided to try one more year of baseball and showed up for the 1961 season in better condition than he had in previous years. Years later he recalled, "That winter was when I really started working out. I started running more. I decided I was really going to find out how good I can be."[30] During spring training, Dodger scout Kenny Myers discovered a hitch in Koufax's windup: he'd rear back so far that his vision was obstructed and he couldn't see the target.[31]

A day later, Koufax was pitching for the "B team" in Orlando. Teammate Ed Palmquist missed the flight, so Koufax was told he would need to pitch at least seven innings. In the first inning, Koufax walked the bases loaded on 12 straight pitches. Catcher Norm Sherry reminded Koufax to take something off the ball to get better control. The advice worked, as Koufax struck out the side, going on to pitch seven no-hit innings.[32]

It was the beginning of Koufax's breakout season. Posting an 18–13 record, Koufax led the league with 269 strikeouts, breaking Christy Mathewson's 58-year-old NL mark of 267.[33] Koufax made his first two All-Star Game appearances (two games were played at that time), pitching two scoreless innings.[34]

1962 season

In 1962, the Dodgers moved from Los Angeles Coliseum, which had a 250-foot left field line, to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. The new park had a large foul territory and a comparatively poor hitting background. Koufax was an immediate beneficiary of the change, lowering his home ERA from 4.29 to 1.75.[35] On June 30 against the expansion New York Mets, Koufax threw his first no-hitter. In the first inning of that game, Koufax struck out three batters on nine pitches to become the sixth National League pitcher and the 11th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish a nine-pitch/three-strikeout half-inning. With the no-hitter and a 1.23 ERA for June, he was named Player of the Month.[36][37]

Koufax had his strong season despite an injured pitching hand. While batting in April, Koufax had been jammed by a pitch from Earl Francis. A numbness developed in Koufax's index finger on his left hand, and the finger became cold and white. Koufax was pitching better than ever before, however, so he ignored the problem, hoping that the condition would clear up. By July, though, his entire hand was becoming numb and he was unable to complete some games. In a start in Cincinnati, his finger split open after one inning. A vascular specialist determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. Koufax finally was able to pitch again in September, when the team was locked in a tight pennant race with the Giants. But after the long layoff, Koufax was ineffective in three appearances as the Giants caught the Dodgers at the end of the regular season, forcing a three-game playoff.[38]

The night before the National League playoffs began, Manager Walter Alston asked Koufax if he could start the first game the next day. With an overworked pitching staff, there was no one else, as Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres had pitched the prior two days. Koufax obliged. Koufax later said, "I had nothing at all." He was knocked out in the second inning, after giving up home runs to Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Jim Davenport. After winning the second game of the series, the Dodgers blew a 4–2 lead in the ninth inning of the deciding third game, losing the pennant.[39]

1963 season

Koufax came roaring back in 1963. On May 11, he carried a perfect game into the eighth inning against the powerful Giants lineup, including future Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Orlando Cepeda. Koufax walked Ed Bailey on a 3-and-2 pitch, but preserved the no-hitter by closing out the ninth.[40] As the Dodgers won the pennant, Koufax won the pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (306) and ERA (1.88). Koufax threw 11 shutouts, a total that only Bob Gibson has surpassed since then. Koufax won the NL MVP Award, the Hickok Belt, and was the first-ever unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award.[41][42]

Facing the Yankees in the 1963 World Series, Koufax beat Whitey Ford 5 to 2 in Game 1 and struck out 15 batters, breaking Carl Erskine's decade-old record of 14. (Bob Gibson would break Koufax's record by striking out 17 Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series opener.) After seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, Yogi Berra said, "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five,"[43] to which Maury Wills responded, "He didn't. We lost them for him."[44] In Game 4, Koufax completed the Dodgers' series sweep with a 2–1 victory over Ford, clinching the Series MVP Award for his performance.[45]

1964 season

Koufax's 1964 season started with great expectations. On April 18, Koufax struck out three batters on nine pitches in the third inning of a 3-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the only National League pitcher to have two nine-strike/three-strikeout half-innings.[37] On April 22, however, he felt something "let go" in his arm. Koufax ended up getting three cortisone shots for his sore elbow, and missed three starts.

On June 4, playing at Connie Mack Stadium against the Phillies, Koufax walked Richie Allen on a very close full-count pitch in the fourth inning. Allen, who was thrown out trying to steal second, was the first and last Phillie to reach base that day. With his third no-hitter in three years, Koufax became only the second pitcher of the modern era (after Bob Feller) to pitch three no-hitters.[46]

Koufax jammed his pitching arm in August while diving back to second base to beat a pick-off throw. He managed to pitch and win two more games. However, the morning after his 19th win, a 13-K shutout, he could not straighten his arm. He was diagnosed by Dodgers' team physician Robert Kerlan with traumatic arthritis. With the Dodgers out of the pennant race, the book was closed on Koufax and his 19–5 record.[47]

Playing in pain (1965–66)

1965 season

1965 brought more obstacles for Koufax. On March 31, the morning after pitching a complete spring training game, Koufax awoke to find that his entire left arm was black and blue from hemorrhaging. Koufax returned to Los Angeles to consult with Kerlan, who advised Koufax that he would be lucky to be able to pitch once a week. Kerlan also told Koufax that he would eventually lose full use of his arm. Koufax agreed not to throw at all between games—a resolution that lasted only one start. To get himself through the games he pitched in, Koufax resorted to Empirin with codeine for the pain, which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning. He also took Butazolidin for inflammation, applied capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment (called "atomic balm" by baseball players) before each game, and soaked his arm in a tub of ice afterwards.[48]

Despite the constant pain in his pitching elbow, Koufax pitched 335⅔ innings and led the Dodgers to another pennant. He finished the year by winning his second pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (26), ERA (2.04) and strikeouts (382; the highest modern day total at the time. Nolan Ryan struck out 383 batters in 1973). Koufax captured his second unanimous Cy Young Award. Koufax held batters to 5.79 hits per nine innings, and allowed the fewest base runners per 9 innings in any season ever: 7.83, breaking his own record (set two years earlier) of 7.96. Koufax had 11-game winning streaks in both 1964 and 1965. [1][49]

Koufax garnered headlines by declining to pitch Game 1 of the World Series due to his observance of Yom Kippur. Don Drysdale pitched the opener, but was hit hard by the Minnesota Twins. In Game 2, Koufax pitched six innings, giving up two runs, but the Twins won the Game 5–1 and took an early 2–0 lead in the series. The Dodgers fought back in Games 3 and 4, with wins by Claude Osteen and Drysdale. With the Series tied at 2 to 2, Koufax pitched a complete game shutout in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead back to Minnesota. The Twins won Game 6 to force a seventh game. Starting Game 7 on only two days of rest, Koufax pitched through fatigue and arthritic pain, and despite giving up on his curveball early in the game after failing to get it over for strikes in the first two innings and pitching the rest of the game relying almost entirely on fastballs, he threw a three-hit shutout to clinch the Series. The performance earned him his second World Series MVP award. Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first (and only) time anyone had won the belt more than once. He was awarded Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award.[1][42][50]

Perfection

Main article: Sandy Koufax's perfect game

On September 9, 1965, Koufax became the sixth pitcher of the modern era to throw a perfect game, the first by a left-hander since 1880. The game was Koufax's fourth no-hitter, setting a Major League record (subsequently broken by Nolan Ryan). Koufax struck out 14 batters, the most recorded in a perfect game. The game also featured a quality performance by the opposing pitcher, Bob Hendley of the Cubs. Hendley pitched a one-hitter and allowed only two batters to reach base. Both pitchers had no-hitters intact until the seventh inning.

In one of baseball's great statistical and score-keeping anomalies, this has been the only nine-inning major league game where both teams combined for one hit. The game's only run, scored by the Dodgers, was unearned.[51][52] The Dodger run was scored without a recorded at bat—Lou Johnson walked, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third, and scored when the throw to get him out at third went wild.

Holdout

Before the 1966 season began, Koufax and Drysdale met separately with Dodger GM Buzzie Bavasi to negotiate their contracts for the upcoming year. After Koufax's meeting, he met Drysdale for dinner and complained that Bavasi was using Drysdale against him in the negotiations, asking, "How come you want that much when Drysdale only wants this much?"[53] Drysdale responded that Bavasi did the same thing with him, using Koufax against him. Drysdale's first wife, Ginger Drysdale, suggested that they negotiate together to get what they wanted. They demanded $1 million ($6,565,844 in current dollar terms), divided equally over the next three years, or $167,000 ($1,096,496 in current dollar terms) each for the next three seasons. Both players were represented by an entertainment lawyer, J. William Hayes, which was unusual during an era when players were not represented by agents.[54][55] At the time, Willie Mays was Major League Baseball's highest paid player at $125,000 ($820,730 in current dollar terms) per year and multi-year contracts were very unusual.[56]

Koufax and Drysdale didn't report to spring training in February. Instead, they both signed to appear in the movie Warning Shot, starring David Janssen. Drysdale was going to play a TV commentator and Koufax was going to play a detective. Meanwhile, the Dodgers waged a public relations battle against them. After four weeks, Koufax gave Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate new deals for the both of them. Koufax ended up getting $125,000 and Drysdale $110,000 ($722,243 in current dollar terms). They rejoined the team in the last week of spring training.[57]

1966 season

In April 1966, Kerlan told Koufax it was time to retire, that his arm could not take another season. Koufax kept Kerlan's advice to himself and went out every fourth day to pitch. He ended up pitching 323 innings and had a 27–9 record with a 1.73 ERA. Since then, no left-hander has had more wins, nor a lower ERA, in a season (Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton did match the 27 win mark in 1972). In the final game of the regular season, the Dodgers had to beat the Phillies to win the pennant. In the second game of a doubleheader, Koufax faced Jim Bunning in the first ever match-up between perfect game winners. Koufax, on two days rest, pitched a complete game, 6–3 victory to clinch the pennant.[58] While he started 41 games (for the second year in a row), only two left-handers started as many games in any season over the ensuing years through 2008.

The Dodgers went on to face the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series. Game 2 marked Koufax's third start in eight days. Koufax pitched well enough—Baltimore first baseman Boog Powell told Koufax's biographer, Jane Leavy, "He might have been hurtin' but he was bringin'"—but three errors by Dodger center fielder Willie Davis in the fifth inning produced three unearned runs. Baltimore's Jim Palmer pitched a four-hitter and the Dodgers ended up losing the game 6–0. Alston lifted Koufax at the end of the sixth inning with the idea of getting him extra rest before pitching a potential fifth Series game. It never happened; the Dodgers were swept in four, not scoring a single run in the last three. After the World Series, Koufax announced his retirement due to his arthritic condition.[59]

Career overall

In his 12-season career, Koufax had a 165–87 record with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. He was the first pitcher to average fewer than seven hits allowed per nine innings pitched in his career (6.79) and to strike out more than nine batters (9.28) per nine innings pitched in his career.[60] He also became the 2nd pitcher in baseball history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more strikeouts. In his last ten seasons, from 1957 to 1966, batters hit .203 against Koufax, with a .271 on base percentage and a .315 slugging average.[61]

Koufax's postseason record is impressive: a 4-3 won-lost record with a 0.95 earned run average, in four World Series. He is on the very short list of pitchers who retired with more career strikeouts than innings pitched. Koufax was selected for seven consecutive All-Star games (twice in 1961 (the last season with two All-Star Games), then 1962 to 1966).

Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote. Each of Koufax's three Cy Young Awards were by unanimous vote.[1][62] Koufax and Juan Marichal are the only two pitchers in the post-war era (1946-date) to have more than one 25-win season, with each pitcher recording three.

Among NL pitchers with at least 2,000 innings pitched who have debuted since 1913, he has the highest career winning percentage (.655) and had the lowest career ERA (2.76) until surpassed by Tom Seaver, whose NL career mark is 2.73.[63]

Mechanics

Whereas many left-handed pitchers throw with a three-quarter or sidearm motion, Koufax threw with a pronounced over-the-top arm action. This may have increased his velocity, but reduced the lateral movement on his pitches, especially movement away from left-handed hitters. Most of his velocity came from his strong legs and back, combined with a high kicking wind-up and long forward stretch toward the plate. Throughout his career, Koufax relied mostly on two pitches: his four-seam fastball had a "rising" motion due to underspin, and not only appeared to move very late but also might move two or three distinct times; his overhand curveball, spun with the middle finger, dropped vertically 12 to 24 inches due to his arm action. He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball.[64]

"I knew every pitch he was going to throw and still I couldn't hit him."[65]
— Willie Mays

At the beginning of his career, Koufax worked with coaches to eliminate his tendency to "tip" pitches (i.e. reveal which pitch was coming due to variations in his wind-up). Late in his career, and especially as his arm problems continued, this variation—usually in the position he held his hands at the top of the wind-up—became even more pronounced. Good hitters could often predict what pitch was coming, but were still unable to hit it.

Post-playing career

LAret32.PNG
Sandy Koufax's number 32 was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1972

In 1967, he signed a ten-year contract with NBC for $1 million ($6,382,000 in current dollar terms) to be a broadcaster on the Saturday Game of the Week. Never feeling comfortable in front of the camera, he quit after six years, just prior to the start of the 1973 season.[66][67]

Koufax married Anne Widmark, daughter of movie star Richard Widmark, in 1969; the couple was divorced in the 1980s. He then remarried and divorced again in the 1990s.[67]

In his first year of eligibility in 1972, Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, just weeks after his 36th birthday. His election made him the Hall's youngest member ever, five months younger than Lou Gehrig upon his induction in 1939.[3] On June 4 of that same year, Koufax's uniform number 32 was retired alongside those of Dodger greats Roy Campanella (39) and Jackie Robinson (42).[68]

The Dodgers hired Koufax to be a minor league pitching coach in 1979. He resigned in 1990, saying he wasn't earning his keep, but most observers blamed it on his uneasy relationship with manager Tommy Lasorda.[69] In 2003, Koufax discontinued his relationship with the Dodgers when the New York Post (which, like the Dodgers, had become part of Rupert Murdoch's business empire) published a story reporting rumors about his sexual orientation, and implying that Koufax was gay. Koufax returned to the Dodger organization in 2004 when the Dodgers were sold to Frank McCourt.[51][70]

In 1999, The Sporting News placed Koufax at number 26 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Baseball Players."[71] That same year, he was named as one of the 30 players on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Although he rarely makes public appearances, he went to Turner Field in Atlanta for the introduction ceremony before Game 2 of the World Series.[72] Koufax threw out a ceremonial first pitch at opening day 2008 at Dodger Stadium, to help commemorate the Dodgers 50th Anniversary in Los Angeles.

More than four decades after he retired from baseball, Koufax was the final player chosen in the inaugural Israel Baseball League draft in April 2007. Koufax, 71, was picked by the Modi'in Miracle. "His selection is a tribute to the esteem with which he is held by everyone associated with this league," said Art Shamsky, who managed the Miracle. "It's been 41 years between starts for him. If he's rested and ready to take the mound again, we want him on our team." Koufax declined to join the Miracle, despite the fact he would have been working on 14,875 days rest.[73][74]

On May 14, 2007, Upper Deck Authenticated signed Koufax to an exclusive autograph and memorabilia agreement.[75]

Career statistics

Sandy Koufax Pitching statistics[1]
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO
165 87 2.76 397 314 137 40 9 2324.33 1754 713 204 817 2396

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Sandy Koufax Statistics". www.baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/koufasa01.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-14. 
  2. ^ "1963 Major League Leaders". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/ML_1963_t.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17.  "1965 Major League Leaders". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/ML_1965_t.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17.  "1966 Major League Leaders". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/ML_1966_t.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  3. ^ a b "Retired Numbers - Kirby Puckett". minnesota.twins.mlb.com. http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/puckett.jsp. Retrieved 2007-02-10. 
  4. ^ Solomvits, Sandor. "Yom Kippur and Sandy Koufax". JewishSports.com. http://www.jewishsports.com/reflections/koufax_yom.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-15. 
  5. ^ a b Brody, Seymour. "Koufax Biography". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Koufax.html. Retrieved 2006-11-15. 
  6. ^ a b "Koufax Biography". www.hickoksports.com. http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/koufaxsandy.shtml. Retrieved 2006-11-15. 
  7. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 19–22.
  8. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 22–28; Leavy, pp. 37–40.
  9. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 32–39.
  10. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 43–44.
  11. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 46.
  12. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 44–45.
  13. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 46–48.
  14. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 56–57.
  15. ^ Leavy, p. 54
  16. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 70–74.
  17. ^ Leavy, p. 55
  18. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 65–66.
  19. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 42, 75–94.
  20. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 95–97.
  21. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 98–99.
  22. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 99–100, 295.
  23. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 295.
  24. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 3, 105–107.
  25. ^ Leavy, p. 86.
  26. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 117–124; Leavy, pp. 87–90.
  27. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 125–138; Leavy, pp. 90–92; "Box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08310LAN1959.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  28. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 139–141; "Box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B10060LAN1959.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  29. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 142–147; Leavy, pp. 93–95.
  30. ^ Leavy, p. 101.
  31. ^ Leavy, p. 102.
  32. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 153–155; Leavy, pp. 102–103.
  33. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 157–159; Leavy, pp. 115–116.
  34. ^ "First game box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B07110NLS1961.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17.  "Second game box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B07310ALS1961.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  35. ^ James, p. 233; Koufax and Linn, pp. 127–128; Leavy, p. 116.
  36. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 167–169; Leavy, p. 119; "Player of the Month Award". http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/player_of_the_month_award.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  37. ^ a b "9-Pitches, 9-Strikes, Side Retired". http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  38. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 165–176; Leavy, pp. 120–121.
  39. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 176–177; Neyer, pp. 111–118.
  40. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 181–183; Leavy, pp. 122–123.
  41. ^ "1963 National League Statistics and Awards". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL_1963.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  42. ^ a b "The Hickok Belt". http://www.hickoksports.com/history/hickbelt.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  43. ^ "Sandy Koufax Biography". ESPN SportsCentury. http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Koufax_Sandy.html. Retrieved May 24 2005. 
  44. ^ Ronald N. Neff, www.thornwalker.com. "Joe Sobran - My Other Sandy (ASCII version)". Sobran.com. http://www.sobran.com/columns/2007/070329.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  45. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 184–216; Leavy, pp. 132–143; "World Series MVP Award". http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_mvpw.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-18.  "1963 World Series box scores and play by play". http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/YPS_1963.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  46. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 219–221; Leavy, pp. 151–153.
  47. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 222–228; Leavy, pp. 155–157.
  48. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 228–239; Leavy, pp. 157–160.
  49. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 234–240; Leavy, p. 160; "Single-Season Leaders for Strikeouts". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_season.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  50. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 256–268; Leavy, pp. 169–195; "1965 World Series box scores and play by play". http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/YPS_1965.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  51. ^ a b "Sandy Koufax". www.baseballlibrary.com. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/K/Koufax_Sandy.stm. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  52. ^ Attiyeh, Mike. "The five best pitching duels ever". http://baseballguru.com/attiyeh/analysismikeattiyeh04.html. Retrieved 2007-02-18.  "Box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B09090LAN1965.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  53. ^ Leavy, p. 205
  54. ^ Leavy, pp. 200–207.
  55. ^ "Sic Transit Tradition". Time (Time, Inc.). 1966-04-08. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835304,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-30. 
  56. ^ "Double Play". Time (Time, Inc.). 1966-03-25. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,842547,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-30. 
  57. ^ Leavy, pp. 207–210.
  58. ^ Leavy, pp. 222–236.
  59. ^ Leavy, pp. 236–239; "Box score and play by play". http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1966/B10060LAN1966.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  60. ^ "No Hitter Records". http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_noh1.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17.  "Progressive Leaders for Hits Allowed/9IP". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/Hp9_progress.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17.  "Progressive Leaders for Strikeouts/9IP". http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SOp9_progress.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  61. ^ The play-by-play data from which these averages were calculated are available starting in 1957. See "Sandy Koufax Career Pitching Splits". Baseball-Reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=koufasa01. Retrieved 2007-02-14. 
  62. ^ "MVP and Cy Young Awards". www.baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mvp_cya.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-14. 
  63. ^ While Seaver ended his career with an overall career ERA of 2.86, this included three seasons in the American League. Seaver passed Koufax's record in 1974 when he ended the season with more than 2,000 NL innings and an ERA of 2.47.
  64. ^ Neyer and James, pp. 270–271; Leavy, pp. 6–15.
  65. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 153; Leavy, p. 24.
  66. ^ Leavy, p. 251.
  67. ^ a b Schwartz, Larry. "ESPN Classic - Koufax dominating in '65 Series". espn.com. http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/koufaxsandyadd.html. Retrieved 2007-02-18. 
  68. ^ "Dodgers Retired Numbers". mlb.mlb.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/la/history/retired_numbers.jsp. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  69. ^ Leavy, pp. 255–258.
  70. ^ "Koufax returns to Dodgertown". Addict Baseball and Football Forum. http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/archive/index.php/t-33921.html. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  71. ^ "TSN Presents - Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". sportingnews.com. http://archive.sportingnews.com/baseball/100/. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  72. ^ "The All-Century Team". mlb.mlb.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_history_moreinfo.jsp. Retrieved 2007-02-15.  "Koufax makes appearance at World Series". CNN/SI. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/1999/postseason/world_series/news/1999/10/24/koufax_appearance_ap/. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
  73. ^ "Baseball Toaster: Humbug Journal : He'll be working on 14,875 days rest". Humbug.baseballtoaster.com. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/642563.html. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  74. ^ Font size Print E-mail Share 7 Comments By Lloyd de Vries (2007-04-27). "Koufax Drafted By Israeli Baseball Team". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/27/sportsline/main2735685.shtml. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  75. ^ "Upper Deck News & Events". upperdeck.com. http://sports.upperdeck.com/baseball/article.aspx?aid=2470. Retrieved 2007-06-20. 

References

External links

Search Wikiquote Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Sandy Koufax
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Don Drysdale		 Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day
Starting pitcher
1964		 Succeeded by
Don Drysdale
Preceded by
Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale
Bob Veale		 National League Strikeout Champion
1961
1963
1965–1966		 Succeeded by
Don Drysdale
Bob Veale
Jim Bunning
Preceded by
Bob Purkey		 Major League Player of the Month
June 1962		 Succeeded by
Frank Howard
Preceded by
Warren Spahn		 National League ERA Champion
1962–1966		 Succeeded by
Phil Niekro
Preceded by
Don Drysdale
Larry Jackson		 National League Wins Champion
1963 (with Juan Marichal)
1965-1966		 Succeeded by
Larry Jackson
Mike McCormick
Preceded by
Bucky Walters		 National League Pitching Triple Crown
1963, 1965 & 1966		 Succeeded by
Steve Carlton
Preceded by
Maury Wills		 National League Most Valuable Player
1963		 Succeeded by
Ken Boyer
Preceded by
Don Drysdale
Dean Chance		 Cy Young Award
1963
1965, 1966		 Succeeded by
Dean Chance
Mike McCormick and Jim Lonborg
Preceded by
Ralph Terry
Bob Gibson		 World Series MVP
1963
1965		 Succeeded by
Bob Gibson
Frank Robinson
Preceded by
Ralph Terry
Bob Gibson		 Babe Ruth Award
1963
1965		 Succeeded by
Bob Gibson
Frank Robinson
Preceded by
Maury Wills
Don Schollander		 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year
1963
1965		 Succeeded by
Don Schollander
Frank Robinson
Preceded by
Maury Wills
Jim Brown		 Hickok Belt Winner
1963
1965		 Succeeded by
Jim Brown
Frank Robinson
Preceded by
Jim Bunning		 Perfect game pitcher
September 9, 1965		 Succeeded by
Catfish Hunter
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Brooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Champions
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Los Angeles Dodgers 1959 World Series Champions
Regular season
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Los Angeles Dodgers 1963 World Series Champions
Regular season
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Los Angeles Dodgers 1965 World Series Champions
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National League MVP Award

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Major League Baseball Cy Young Award: 1956-1966

1956: Newcombe | 1957: Spahn | 1958: Turley | 1959: Wynn | 1960: Law | 1961: Ford | 1962: Drysdale | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Chance | 1965: Koufax | 1966: Koufax
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World Series MVP Award
1950s

1955: Podres | 1956: Larsen | 1957: Burdette | 1958: Turley | 1959: Sherry
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1970s
1970: B. Robinson | 1971: Clemente | 1972: Tenace | 1973: Jackson | 1974: Fingers | 1975: Rose | 1976: Bench | 1977: Jackson | 1978: Dent | 1979: Stargell
1980s
1980: Schmidt | 1981: Yeager, Guerrero, & Cey | 1982: Porter | 1983: Dempsey | 1984: Trammell | 1985: Saberhagen | 1986: Knight | 1987: Viola | 1988: Hershiser | 1989: Stewart
1990s
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Babe Ruth Award

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Hutch Award

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v • d • e
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

1954: Roger Bannister · 1955: Johnny Podres · 1956: Bobby Joe Morrow · 1957: Stan Musial · 1958: Rafer Johnson · 1959: Ingemar Johansson · 1960: Arnold Palmer · 1961: Jerry Lucas · 1962: Terry Baker · 1963: Pete Rozelle · 1964: Ken Venturi · 1965: Sandy Koufax · 1966: Jim Ryun · 1967: Carl Yastrzemski · 1968: Bill Russell · 1969: Tom Seaver · 1970: Bobby Orr · 1971: Lee Trevino · 1972: Billie Jean King & John Wooden · 1973: Jackie Stewart · 1974: Muhammad Ali · 1975: Pete Rose · 1976: Chris Evert · 1977: Steve Cauthen · 1978: Jack Nicklaus · 1979: Terry Bradshaw & Willie Stargell · 1980: U.S. Olympic Hockey Team · 1981: Sugar Ray Leonard · 1982: Wayne Gretzky · 1983: Mary Decker · 1984: Edwin Moses & Mary Lou Retton · 1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1986: Joe Paterno · 1987: Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Kipchoge Keino, Dale Murphy, Chip Rives, Patty Sheehan, Rory Sparrow, & Reggie Williams · 1988: Orel Hershiser · 1989: Greg LeMond · 1990: Joe Montana · 1991: Michael Jordan · 1992: Arthur Ashe · 1993: Don Shula · 1994: Bonnie Blair & Johann Olav Koss · 1995: Cal Ripken, Jr. · 1996: Tiger Woods · 1997: Dean Smith · 1998: Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa · 1999: U.S. Women's Soccer Team · 2000: Tiger Woods · 2001: Curt Schilling & Randy Johnson · 2002: Lance Armstrong · 2003: David Robinson & Tim Duncan · 2004: Boston Red Sox · 2005: Tom Brady · 2006: Dwyane Wade · 2007: Brett Favre · 2008: Michael Phelps
v • d • e
Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a perfect game
v • d • e
Los Angeles Dodgers retired numbers

#1 Pee Wee Reese • #2 Tommy Lasorda • #4 Duke Snider • #19 Jim Gilliam • #20 Don Sutton • #24 Walter Alston • #32 Sandy Koufax • #39 Roy Campanella • #42 Jackie Robinson • #53 Don Drysdale
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Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972
BBWAA Vote

Yogi Berra (85.61%) • Sandy Koufax (86.87%) • Early Wynn (76.01%)
Veterans Committee
Negro League Committee
J. G. Taylor Spink Award
Frank Graham
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Pitchers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame

Alexander • Bender • M. Brown • R. Brown • Bunning • Carlton • Chesbro • Clarkson • Cooper • Coveleski • Cummings • Day • Dean • Dihigo • Drysdale • Eckersley • Faber • Feller • Fingers • Ford • Bill Foster Rube Foster • Galvin • Gibson • Gomez • Gossage • Grimes • Grove • Haines • Hoyt • Hubbell • Hunter • Jenkins • Johnson • Joss • Keefe • Koufax • Lemon • Lyons • Marichal • Marquard • Mathewson • McGinnity • Mendez • Newhouser • Nichols • Niekro • Paige • Palmer • Pennock • Perry • Plank • Radbourn • Rixey • Roberts • Rogan • Ruffing • Rusie • Ryan • Seaver • Smith • Spahn • Sutter • Sutton • Vance • Waddell • Walsh • Welch • Wilhelm • Williams • Willis • Wynn • Young
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Major League Baseball on NBC
Related programs
Related articles
Commentators
Key figures
Lore
League Division Series
1981 (NLDS) · 1995 (ALDS/NLDS) · 1996 (ALDS/NLDS) · 1997 (ALDS/NLDS) · 1998 (ALDS/NLDS) · 1999 (ALDS/NLDS) · 2000 (ALDS)
League Championship Series
1969 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1970 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1971 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1972 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1973 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1974 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1975 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1977 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1979 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1981 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1983 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1985 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1987 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1989 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1995 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1996 (ALCS) · 1997 (NLCS) · 1998 (ALCS) · 1999 (NLCS) · 2000 (ALCS)
All-Star Games
1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959: First–Second · 1960: First–Second · 1961: First–Second · 1962: First–Second · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1977 · 1979 · 1981 · 1983 · 1985 · 1987 · 1989 · 1994 · 1996 · 1998 · 2000
World Series
1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1978 · 1980 · 1982 · 1984 · 1986 · 1988 · 1995 · 1997 · 1999

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