He resigned in 1990, saying he was not earning his keep, but most observers blamed it on his uneasy relationship with manager Tommy Lasorda. After the final out of Game 7, Koufax drove to Columbia to attend class. An outstanding schoolboy athlete, Koufax starred at basketball and barely played baseball during his time at Lafayette High School. He also became the second pitcher in baseball The one-year wonder that was '63 Fleer gave us some dandy cards of 1960s Hall of Famers and this might be the best card in the set. [62] He threw 11 shutouts, eclipsing Carl Hubbell's 30-year post-1900 mark for a left-handed pitcher of 10 and setting a record that stands to this day. first pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame (1972) who had more strikeouts than innings pitched . With his third no-hitter in three years Koufax tied Feller as the only modern-era pitchers to hurl three no-hitters.[72]. December 30, 1935 Koufax had to call it a career after the 1966 season as a result of worsening arthritis in his throwing arm. He was awarded Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. "[85] Drysdale responded that Bavasi had done the same thing with him, in reverse. 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, Before tenth grade, Koufax's family moved back to the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Sandy Koufax is a famous American baseball player who played 12 seasons with LA Dodgers in MLB from the year 1955 to 1966. Sandy Koufax was born as Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935. It was Yom Kippur, 6 October 1965, the day Sandy Koufax's choice to forgo work and observe the Jewish Day of Atonement, rather than pitch in the Series opener, instantly became the bible-esque . I started running more. His decision garnered national headlines, raising the conflict between professional pressures and personal religious beliefs to front-page news. [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. Koufax agreed not to throw at all between gamesa resolution that lasted only one start. He was one of six pitchers who's fastball velocities were measured. This aided in his devastating curveball and may have increased his velocity, but reduced the lateral movement on his pitches, especially movement away from left-handed hitters. Do you have a blog? Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. $44.99 $ 44. The Dodgers won the 1955 World Series for the first title in franchise history, but Koufax did not appear in the series. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Find out more. The former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher undoubtedly had a far higher net worth because players were not paid as richly as they are today. He is also the only pitcher to win three Cy Young Awards in the era in which the Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente became the first Latin American player to collect 3,000 career hits before his death in a plane crash. That changed to some degree in recent years as the legendary lefty has signed a little more frequently in private settings in response to . Actually, he would let you look at it. [36], Koufax and fellow Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale served six months in the United States Army Reserve at Fort Dix in New Jersey after the end of the 1957 season and before spring training in 1958.[37][38][39][40][41]. Classic SI Photos of Sandy Koufax From 1963 to '66, Sandy Koufax had averaged a 24-7 record, 307 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA, winning three out of four Cy Young awards at a time before each. [111][112], The Dodgers hired Koufax to be a minor league pitching coach in 1979. [25] Koufax planned to use the money as tuition to finish his university education, if his baseball career failed. Sandy Koufax was born on 30 December 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Rookie Status: [105] His four-seam fastball gave batters the impression of rising as it approached them, due to backspin. Every single product on this site has been approved and licensed by Sandy Koufax. In a Reserve Price Auction, the seller has set a Reserve Price, which is a price below which the listing . The hard-throwing left-hander was baseball's most dominant pitcher until elbow arthritis forced him to retire at the age of 30. Alston gave him the start in Game 5, at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 92,706 fans. 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. Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. 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. Koufax allowed only one run in seven innings, but lost the 10 game when Nellie Fox scored on a double play. [129], Author Larry Ruttman called Koufax "an icon" for Jewish people because of his pitching skill and what he called Koufax's "deep respect for his Judaism" as shown in 1965. He started playing basketball for the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst local community center team. Over the next three seasons, Koufax was in and out of the starting rotation due to injuries. [16][17] Bill Zinser, a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, sent the Dodgers front office a glowing report that apparently was filed and forgotten. [59] Koufax, who had reduced his walks allowed per nine innings to 3.4 in 1961 and 2.8 in 1962, reduced his walk rate further to 1.7 in 1963, which ranked fifth in the league. Jackie Robinson, in his final season, clashed with Alston on Koufax's usage. Koufax, at age 36 in 1972, became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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. The future baseball great took on his more familiar surname at age 9 when his mother, Evelyn, remarried attorney Irving Koufax. 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. Sandy Koufax is a devout Jew and is known as one of the most famous Jewish players to have graced the American sports scene. [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. 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). 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 kept Kerlan's advice to himself and went out every fourth day to pitch. By July, though, his entire hand was becoming numb and he was unable to complete some games. Koufax was the supreme pitcher of his generation and the greatest Jewish hurler ever, and his taking a stand occurred at baseball's centerpiece event. Family (1) Spouse Kimberly Francis (1985 - 9 December 1998) (divorced) Former professional baseball player Sandy Koufax began his career in 1955 when he was signed by his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball. Clayton Kershaw and Joe Torre were the primary speakers ahead of the unveiling of a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax at the Centerfield Plaza at . He has since worked for the Dodgers organization in a variety of capacities. 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. 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. He died of ALS in 1941. Tired of constantly taking medication and concerned about his future health, Koufax stunned the baseball world by announcing his retirement on November 18, 1966. https://www.biography.com/athlete/sandy-koufax. Both players were represented by an entertainment lawyer, J. William Hayes, which was unusual in an era when players were not even represented by agents. Ruttman, "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman". Sanford "Sandy" Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, was referred to as the "man with the golden arm." He established one record after another as he went through an 11-year career as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers. What I don't understand is how he lost five, said Hall of Famer Yogi Berra in 1963. "[104], Koufax threw with a pronounced straight-over-the-top arm action. Sandy Koufax retired at 30-years-old because of chronic arthritis in his throwing elbow. On June 30 against the expansion New York Mets, he threw his first no-hitter. [10] Shortly after his mother's remarriage, the family moved to the Long Island suburb of Rockville Centre. When Koufax allowed baserunners, he was rarely permitted to finish the inning. In that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got no decision. [57], In 1963 Major League Baseball expanded the strike zone. On September 29, he became the last man to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, throwing an inning of relief in the final game of the season. After a slow start, his baseball career was cut short by problems with his pitching arm. Sandy Koufax is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. [126], Koufax has been described by Sports Illustrated writer John Rosengren as a secular Jew. Koufax finally gained control of his overpowering fastball and knee-buckling curveball in the early 1960s, and embarked on one of the most dominant pitching runs in baseball history. The new park had a large foul territory and a comparatively poor hitting background. A vascular specialist determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm. [49] Selected as an All-Star for the first time, he appeared in both All-Star Games that year (two All-Star games were held for the years from 1959 to 1962). After the last game of the season, he threw his gloves and spikes into the trash. [35], To prepare for the 1957 season, the Dodgers sent Koufax to Puerto Rico to play winter ball. [2][75], On September 9, 1965, Koufax became the sixth pitcher of the modern era, and eighth overall, to throw a perfect game. Instead, the Dodgers were swept in four games, not scoring a single run in the last three. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, "In April of 1966 Koufax was told that he couldn't go another season, but he did just that - winning a career-high 27 games with a career-best 1.73 ERA.". Sabermetrician Rob Neyer called it the best curve of all time. He was the youngest player ever elected, five months younger than Lou Gehrig upon his special election in December 1939 (which waived what was then a one-year waiting period before enshrinement). [52] On April 24, he tied his own record with 18 strikeouts in a 10-2 road win over the Cubs. [29] He lasted only .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}4+23 innings, giving up eight walks. [60], On May 11 Koufax no-hit the Giants 80, besting Marichalhimself a no-hit pitcher on June 15. See. ( 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. The performance earned him his second World Series MVP award, making him the first player to win the award twice. Exceeded rookie limits during 1956 season, View Player Bio Join our linker program. Once alerted, he made an effort to better disguise his deliveries. of 27, 26 and 25 . Eddie Mathews bunted, and Koufax threw the ball into center field. Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees in the 1920s and 1930s, setting the mark for consecutive games played. ". Meanwhile, the Dodgers waged a public relations battle against them. He played it through his youth, high school and even earned himself a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. In 1963, Sandy Koufax led the National League in wins (25), strikeouts (306) ERA (1.88), and threw eleven shutouts, setting a new record for shutouts by a left-handed pitcher that is still in the Shutouts Record Book (the previous record was held by Carl Hubbell who had ten shutouts in 1933). 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