award was presented to one pitcher, rather than one in each league . SUMMARY Returning to Chicago, the Dodgers won Game 6 and the Series. In his last 10 seasons, batters hit .203 against him with a .271 on-base percentage and a .315 slugging In 1965, Koufax was 26-8, with a 2.04 ERA, the only season in this four-year stretch that his ERA finished above 2.00 -- by a tick. In 12 Major Koufax was an immediate beneficiary of the change, lowering his ERA at home from 4.29 to 1.75. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. He also became the second pitcher in baseball From 1962 to 1966, he recorded 111 wins against only 34 losses, led the National League in ERA five times, set a single-season record with 382 strikeouts, and won three Cy Young Awards and one Most Valuable Player trophy. See. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. But after making adjustments prior to the 1961 season, and benefitting from the team's move into expansive Dodger Stadium a year later, Koufax quickly rose to become the most dominant pitcher in the major leagues before arthritis in his left elbow ended his playing days prematurely at age 30. Teammate Joe Pignatano said that 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. Topps Sandy Koufax 1961 Season Baseball Sports Trading Cards & Accessories, Topps Sandy Koufax Baseball Cards 1942-1980, Topps Sandy Koufax Ungraded Baseball Sports Trading Cards, Topps Sandy Koufax Baseball Sports Trading Card Singles, Topps Sandy Koufax Baseball Sports Trading Cards & Accessories, Sandy Koufax Baseball Trading Cards, Pitching is the art of instilling fear. Sandy Koufax was born as Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935. "His selection is a tribute to the esteem with which he is held by everyone associated with this league", said former New York Met Art Shamsky, who managed the Miracle. [50] He pitched six innings in four All-Star games,[100] including being the starting pitcher for three innings in the 1966 All-Star Game. [2][75], On September 9, 1965, Koufax became the sixth pitcher of the modern era, and eighth overall, to throw a perfect game. "Either he throws the fastest ball I've ever seen, or I'm going blind, said Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. He was also named the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1963, and was runner-up for the award the other two years. Sandy Koufax was born on 30 December 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Koufax was the MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1963 and also won Cy Young Awards in 1965 and '66 . [46], A day later, Koufax was pitching for the "B team" in Orlando. 1963 Fleer Sandy Koufax. [65][66] It was not only the first of three times he would be a unanimous selection, it was the only Cy Young Award given out for both leagues during his career; separate awards for each league were presented starting in 1967. On November 18, 1966, Sandy Koufax, the ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, retires from baseball.He was just 30 years old, and he was retiring after a great season-he'd led the Dodgers . Doyel: Sandy Koufax made the Hall of Fame, but not this semi-pro team in Oldenburg, Indiana. Jackie Robinson, in his final season, clashed with Alston on Koufax's usage. "It's been 41 years between starts for him. He started out as a left-handed catcher before moving to first base. 32 was retired alongside those of fellow Dodger greats Roy Campanella The mention of his name brought the biggest cheer at the event. On Sept. 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax tossed the eighth perfect game in MLB history, defeating the Cubs 1-0 at Dodger Stadium. But this past summer, almost 60 years after the Hall of Fame pitcher sat out a World Series game to observe . On April 18, he struck out three batters on nine pitches in the third inning of a 30 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the only NL pitcher to have two "immaculate innings". While batting in April, he had been jammed by a pitch from Earl Francis. Sandy Koufax was the first pitcher in major league baseball to earn multiple Cy Young Awards. Starting Game 7 on just two days of rest, Koufax pitched through fatigue and arthritic pain. What I don't understand is how he lost five, said Hall of Famer Yogi Berra in 1963. When he did play college baseball the scouts came in droves. Koufax was the first major league pitcher to hurl four no-hitters, and in 1965 became the eighth pitcher and the first left-hander since 1880 to pitch a perfect game. They demanded $1 million (equivalent to $8.4million in 2021), divided equally over the next three years, or $167,000 (equivalent to $1.39million in 2021) each for each of the next three seasons. [55], Koufax had a strong season despite an injured pitching hand. Sandy Koufax. I can't pitch. ". He is the inspiration for my site's whimsical "Sabbathmetrics" series (examining whether Jewish ballplayers do better or worse on the Sabbath). "[28], Koufax's first start was on July 6. [107] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born December 30, 1935 Sandy Koufax Baseball Cards In Review Sandy Koufax was the first major league pitcher to pitch four no-hitters and only the eighth pitcher at the time to pitch a perfect game in baseball history. His parents were Evelyn (ne Lichtenstein) and Jack Braun, Sephardic Jews of Hungarian descent.6The family lived in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Sandy Koufax is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. [120] He was also named that year as one of the 30 players on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Koufax ended up getting $125,000 and Drysdale $110,000 (equivalent to $0.92million in 2021). [26], Because Koufax's signing bonus was greater than $4,000 ($40,000 today), he was known as a bonus baby. [30][31] Koufax threw 41+23 innings in 12 appearances that season, striking out 30 batters and walking 28. [22] Dodgers scout Al Campanis heard about Koufax from Jimmy Murphy, a part-time scout. With the Series tied at 22, Koufax pitched a complete-game shutout in Game 5 for a 32 Dodgers lead as the Series returned to Metropolitan Stadium for Game 6, which the Twins won to force a seventh game. When Sandy Koufax was awarded a basketball scholarship to the University of Cincinnati in 1953, his plans included a career in architecture. vs. PHI 9.0 IP, 7 H, 10 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER, W. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1972. While not as difficult to locate in high grade as the Clemente rookie, this card remains one of the major keys to the set, a set . [118] In 2022, a statue of Koufax was unveiled at Dodger Stadium. Sandy Koufax's legacy as the greatest Jewish athlete ever has never been in question. Fans and collectors are buying in good faith items they believe are real. He dazzled in the national spotlight when he set a World Series single-game record with 15 strikeouts in 1963, and again when he threw a perfect game to wrap up a record fourth no-hitter in 1965. The hard-throwing left-hander was the most dominant pitcher in baseball until elbow arthritis forced an early retirement at age 30. [105] His four-seam fastball gave batters the impression of rising as it approached them, due to backspin. He made 43 appearances, had 27 complete games (eight shutouts) and 382 strikeouts in 335 2/3 innings. About Sandy Koufax. by Jane Leavy. [52] On April 24, he tied his own record with 18 strikeouts in a 10-2 road win over the Cubs. [112] Neither marriage produced children. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . [128] In addition, there were other Jewish holidays where he said he would not pitch, including Seder night of Passover and 3 times on Rosh Hashanah, one of which was Game 4 of the 1959 World Series. [34] He saw little work, pitching only 58+23 innings with a 4.91 ERA, 29 walks and 30 strikeouts. in Brooklyn, NY His overhand curveball, spun with the middle finger, dropped vertically 12 to 24inches due to his arm action. Traumatic arthritis in his elbow ended Koufaxs career early due to a threat of permanent disability. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), One of the most dominant left-handed pitchers of his time, Sandy Koufax captured the earned-run title five years in a row (1962-1966). His reputation was marred, however, by the university's child abuse sex scandal in 2011, which resulted in his dismissal. I decided I was really going to find out how good I can be. Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy by Jane Leavy 6,337 ratings, 4.06 average rating, 276 reviews Open Preview Sandy Koufax Quotes Showing 1-6 of 6 "In the immortal words of Willie Stargell, trying to hit Koufax was like "trying to drink coffee with a fork." Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy 3 likes Like [11], Koufax attended Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, where he was better known for basketball than for baseball. However, due to changes in Hall practices, the 1972 induction ceremony was nearly eight months after the election, leaving Koufax slightly older than Gehrig, who had no formal induction ceremony, at the time of his induction. After the meeting, the pitchers met for dinner, with Koufax complaining that Bavasi was using his teammate against him in the negotiations, taunting, "How come you want that much when Drysdale only wants this much? Sanford Braun Age and Birth Information You must have idea about Sanford Braun age! [61] From July 3 to July 16, he pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings, pitching three shutouts to lower his ERA to 1.65. Besides, he was also the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of fame when he was 36 years old. ( Source : baseballhall) Considered one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball, Koufax is the youngest player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. [105], At the beginning of his career Koufax fought a tendency to "tip" pitches to the opposing team through variations in his wind-up, which included the position in which he held his hands at the top of the wind-up. $23.95. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. Sanford Koufax (/kofks/; born Sanford Braun; December 30, 1935) is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Obama continued: "He can't pitch on Yom Kippur. us, High School: Lafayette HS (Brooklyn, NY), Schools: Columbia University (New York, NY), University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH), Debut: from the SABR BioProject, More Sandy Koufax Pages at Baseball Reference. Arrives before Christmas Only 16 left in stock - order soon. Koufax walked Hank Aaron on four pitches to load the bases, then struck out Bobby Thomson on a full count. After joining the major leagues at age 19, having never pitched a game in the minor . In his last ten seasons, from 1957 to 1966, batters hit .203 against him, with a .271 on-base percentage and a .315 slugging average. By July, though, his entire hand was becoming numb and he was unable to complete some games. Most of his velocity came from his strong legs and back, combined with a high leg kick during his wind-up and long forward extension on his release point toward home plate. In May 2010, he was invited to become a part of 'Jewish American Heritage Month' celebrations at 'The White House.' In 1969, Sandy Koufax married Anne Widmark, daughter of Hollywood actor Richard Widmark. In 1958, he began 73, but sprained his ankle in a collision at first base, finishing the season at 1111 and leading the NL in wild pitches. [56], The night before the playoffs began, manager Alston asked Koufax if he could start the next day. Koufax gets Dodger Stadium statue next to Jackie Robinson. In the first inning, Koufax walked the bases loaded on 12 straight pitches. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. He is also notable for being one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in U.S. sports; Koufax's decision not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur garnered national attention as a conflict between religious calling and society, and remains a notable event in U.S. Jewish history. (Age 19-176d, Despite winning three of his next five with a 2.90 ERA, Koufax did not get another start for 45 days. The advice worked, Koufax struck out the side, and then went on to pitch seven no-hit innings. Do you have a sports website? If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Let scroll the below table. We lost them for him. Despite his string of amazing performances, Koufax pitched in pain throughout the 1965-1966 campaigns due to arthritis in his left elbow. Facing the Yankees in the 1963 World Series, Koufax beat Whitey Ford 52 in Game 1 and struck out the first five batters and 15 overall, breaking Carl Erskine's decade-old record of 14 (a record that would fall to Gibson's 17 in the 1968 World Series opener). [20] During his Pirates tryout, his fastball broke the thumb of Sam Narron, the team's bullpen coach. Facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Koufax struck out 13 while pitching his first complete game in almost two years. A vascular specialist determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm. in Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania (Graduated 2020) 1 y The only time anyone ever tried to measure how fast Sandy Koufax could throw was during spring training of 1960 as part of a test set up by This Week magazine. Despite his comparatively short career, his 2,396 career strikeouts ranked seventh in major league history, trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers; his 40 shutouts were tied for ninth in modern NL history. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 01:19. In his 12-season major league career, Koufax had a 16587 record with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. was a member of Dodgers' world championship teams in 1955, '59, '63 and '65, earning MVP honors in 1963 and We will offer fans the opportunity to buy signed and unsigned items. [83], In Game 2 Koufax pitched six innings, giving up two runs, and the Twins won 51 to take an early 20 lead in the series. It's become the stuff of legend in American. In 1963, Koufax led the league in wins with 25, in ERA with 1.88, in shutouts with 11 and strikeouts with 306. Baltimore's 20-year-old future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer pitched a four-hitter, and the Orioles won 60. Michael Jordan is a former American basketball player who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and won the Most Valuable Player Award five times. [10] Shortly after his mother's remarriage, the family moved to the Long Island suburb of Rockville Centre. Koufax carried a perfect game into the eighth inning against the powerful Giants lineup, including Mays and fellow future Hall of Famers Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda. If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day. Koufax won the NL MVP Award and the Hickok Belt, and was the first-ever unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 PSA Mint 9 ($204,000 USD) At $204,000 USD through Heritage Auctions this rookie Sandy Koufax card sold on March 23, 2017. Jewish American baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax was a star player for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers before elbow arthritis forced him into early retirement. honors Steinbrenner, Clemens at 15th annual dinner", "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman", "Close-Up: Good Life of Baseball's Number 1 Hero", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sandy_Koufax&oldid=1132877459, October 2,1966,for theLos Angeles Dodgers. In that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got no decision. In June 1959, Koufax set the record for a night game with 16 strikeouts. strikeouts . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [88], Koufax and Drysdale did not report to spring training in February. After four weeks, Koufax gave Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate new deals for both of them. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, Columbia University School of General Studies, Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders, List of Major League Baseball perfect games, List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise, List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball, "Sandy Koufax's refusal to pitch on Yom Kippur still resonates", "Sandy Koufax's season with UC Bearcats remembered", "Koufax Recalls His Wild Start At Forbes Field", Autographed 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Spring Training Roster Program - Army Reserves - 1957 Meal Card, Drysdale and Koufax on active duty training, How Sandy Koufaxs Motel Helped Lead to Baseballs Big-Money Era, Don Drysdale Collection at SCP - Part II - In the Army Now, Lot #23: DON DRYSDALE'S 1957-58 U.S. ARMY WORN FIELD JACKET (DRYSDALE COLLECTION), "Midsummer Classics: Celebrating MLB's All-Star Game", "Major League Baseball Players of the Month", "The Strike Zone: A Chronological Examination of the Official Rules by Baseball Almanac", "1962 National League Team Statistics and Standings", "1963 National League Team Statistics and Standings", "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Shutouts", "1963 National League Statistics and Awards", "Joe Sobran My Other Sandy (ASCII version)", "1963 World Series box scores and play by play", "On this day 49 years ago, Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game in one hour and 43 minutes", "Domination in the Dome: Nolan Ryan Throws His Fifth No-Hitter", "Sandy Koufax turns 80: The 8 most memorable performances of his HOF career", "Every perfect game in Major League history, ranked", "Macon's Bob Hendley made history with Koufax", "Sandy Koufax Responded to a Higher Calling on Yom Kippur in 1965", "1965 World Series box scores and play by play", "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Games Started", "Baltimore makes it two straight as Dodgers defense comes apart", "Elbow too much Sandy Koufax quitting baseball", "Progressive Leaders for Hits Allowed/9IP", "Career Leaders & Records for Earned Run Average", "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Wins", "The Incomparable Career of Sandy Koufax", "ESPN Classic Koufax's dominance was short but sweet", "ESPN Classic Koufax dominating in '65 Series", "Dodgers to be joined by Koufax at Spring Training", "Los Angeles Dodgers unveil Sandy Koufax statue outside stadium", "The Sporting News Selects Baseball's 100 Greatest Players", "Koufax makes appearance at World Series", "Baseball Toaster: Humbug Journal: He'll be working on 14,875 days rest", "Koufax Drafted By Israeli Baseball Team", "Koufax, Mays, Aaron, Bench voted by fans as four greatest living players", "Obama Honors Jewish Americans at White House Reception, May 27, 2010", "Remarks by the President at Reception in Honor of Jewish American Heritage Month", "Myth and fact part of legacy from Sandy Koufax's Yom Kippur choice", "Jewish pitcher Sandy Koufax did more than miss one game", "Sandy Koufax's wife Jane Purucker Clarke (Bio, Wiki)", "B.A.T. Sandy Koufax pitched the game of his life in his final regular-season performance. October 2, 1966 [43], In early 1960, Koufax asked Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi to trade him because he was not getting enough playing time. He is married to Jane Purucker Clarke. Koufax returned to Los Angeles to consult with Kerlan, who advised him that he would be lucky to be able to pitch once a week. [95] In his three World Series losses, all starts, spread over three different Series, Koufax gave up a total of three earned runs; the Dodgers scored a total of one run in support in all three. Koufax briefly held the Dodgers records for career strikeouts and shutouts until longtime teammate Don Drysdale passed him in 1968. [108] Late in his career, his tendency to tip pitches became even more pronounced. "[45] During spring training, Dodger scout Kenny Myers discovered a hitch in Koufax's windup, where he would rear back so far he would lose sight of the target. With his third no-hitter in three years Koufax tied Feller as the only modern-era pitchers to hurl three no-hitters.[72]. Laurie recognized that Koufax might be able to pitch, and recruited the 17-year-old to pitch for the Coney Island Sports League's Parkviews. That changed to some degree in recent years as the legendary lefty has signed a little more frequently in private settings in response to . Former professional baseball player Sandy Koufax began his career in 1955 when he was signed by his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers. [57], In 1963 Major League Baseball expanded the strike zone. [8][9] His parents, Evelyn (ne Lichtenstein) and Jack Braun, divorced when he was three years old. To make room for him, the Dodgers optioned their future Hall of Fame manager, Tommy Lasorda, to the Montreal Royals of the International League. percentage . [113] Koufax returned to the Dodger organization in 2004 when the Dodgers were sold to Frank McCourt. He quit after six years, just prior to the start of the 1973 season. Join our linker program. Sandy Koufax is the youngest ever player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Smilin' Sandy is back and better yet, they are very easy to pick up online for a pretty reasonable price. Since then, no left-hander has had more wins, nor a lower ERA; only Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton matched the 27-win mark, in 1972. vs. MLN 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? "[24] The Dodgers signed Koufax for a $6,000 ($61,000 today) salary, with a $14,000 ($141,000 today) signing bonus. Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young [50] In the first game he faced only one batter, giving up a hit to Al Kaline in the ninth inning. Born: [76][77] The game was Koufax's fourth no-hitter,[77] setting a major league record (subsequently broken by Ryan in 1981),[78] and the first by a left-hander since 1880. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. He led the Miami Heat to NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 and won another championship with Cleveland in 2016, before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. He resigned in 1990, saying he was not earning his keep, but most observers blamed it on his uneasy relationship with manager Tommy Lasorda. Although he rarely makes public appearances, he went to Turner Field in Atlanta for the introduction ceremony before Game 2 of the 1999 World Series. [128] Regardless, his decision to not pitch on Yom Kippur in 1965 was highly significant for Jewish-Americans. Sandy Koufax | Autographed Baseball Memorabilia & MLB Merchandise Player Sandy Koufax SAME DAY SHIPPING Jim Kaat Autographed Signed 8X10 Photo Minnesota Twins With Sandy Koufax 283 Wins Mcs Holo KEN $69.22 $44.99 SAME DAY SHIPPING Sandy Koufax 1960 Los Angeles Dodgers 3D Motion Button #175949 KEN $153.83 $99.99 free shipping SAME DAY SHIPPING Koufax won 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, topped only by Nolan Ryan's 383 in 1973), and captured his second unanimous Cy Young Award. While playing first base for Lafayette's baseball team with his friend Fred Wilpon,[13] he was spotted by Milt Laurie, a baseball coach who was the father of two Lafayette players. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Claude Osteen (center) celebrates with Don Drysdale (right) and Sandy Koufax (left) after Sandy leads the Dodgers to a 7-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 5 of the 1965 World Series. He was selected as an All-Star for six consecutive seasons[1] and made seven out of eight possible All-Star Game appearances those seasons (he was not on the roster for the second All-Star Game in 1962). Instead, Koufax made a living on a baseball diamond, becoming one of the most dominating left-handers of all time. Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first time anyone had won the belt more than once. On June 30 against the expansion New York Mets, he threw his first no-hitter. portion of Spring Training to work with Dodger pitchers and consulting with the team Sandy Koufax 24 X 18 X 1.5 Inch Premium Canvas Framed Art Print Artwork Signed By Artist To Stars, WINFORD WRealArt (243) $199.95 1955 SANDY KOUFAX Topps #23 Rookie Card print - Vintage Baseball Poster, Rare Baseball Card, Baseball Card Collector, Baseball Card Art DingerStudios (864) $26.00 FREE shipping 1961 Topps Sandy Koufax VG-EX He then walked Hank Aaron on four pitches to load the bases, but struck out Bobby Thomson on a 32 fastballan outcome Koufax later came to view as "probably the worst thing that could have happened to me," leading, as it did, to five seasons spent "trying to get out of trouble by throwing harder and harder and harder. The Dodgers fought back in Games 3 and 4, with wins by Claude Osteen and Drysdale. Privacy Statement/Your California Privacy Rights. history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more
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