Sandy Koufax From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Sandy Koufax Pitcher Born: December 30, 1935 (1935-12-30) (age 72) Brooklyn, New York Batted: Right Threw: Left MLB debut June 24, 1955 for the Brooklyn Dodgers Final game October 2, 1966 for the Los Angeles Dodgers Career statistics Win-Loss record 165–87 Earned run average 2.76 Strikeouts 2,396 Teams Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers (1955–1966) Career highlights and awards 6x All-Star selection (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 3x World Series champion (1959, 1963, 1965) 3x Cy Young Award winner (1963, 1965, 1966) 1963 NL MVP 2x World Series MVP (1963, 1965) 5x NL TSN Pitcher of the Year (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 2x Babe Ruth Award (1963, 1965) Pitched a perfect game on September 9, 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers #32 retired Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Elected 1972 Vote 86.87% (first ballot) Sanford 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. 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, and won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, all during the period when only one pitcher was chosen per season. 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 lefthanders. Retiring at the peak of his career, he became, at age 36 and 20 days, the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.[3] Koufax is also remembered as one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in American sport. 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 [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Professional career 1.2.1 Early years (1956–60) 1.2.2 Domination (1961–64) 1.2.2.1 1961 season 1.2.2.2 1962 season 1.2.2.3 1963 season 1.2.2.4 1964 season 1.2.3 Playing in pain (1965–66) 1.2.3.1 1965 season 1.2.3.2 Perfection 1.2.3.3 Holdout 1.2.3.4 1966 season 1.2.4 Career overall 1.3 Mechanics 1.4 Post-playing career 2 Career statistics 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links [edit] Biography [edit] 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 lefthanded 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 salary, with a $14,000 signing bonus. Koufax planned to use the signing bonus as tuition to finish his university education, if his baseball career failed.[18] [edit]

Professional career [edit] Early years (1956–60) Because Koufax's signing bonus was greater than $4,000, 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 walked 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 2/3 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 and earned a complete game win. It was his first complete game in almost two years. For the next two weeks, and for the first time in his career, he was in the starting rotation. Despite winning three of his next five, leading the league in strikeouts and having a 2.90 ERA, Koufax didn't get another start for 45 days. In his next start, on July 19, 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. He started the 1958 season strong by going 7–3 through July, but ended up spraining his ankle in a collision at first base. He finished the season with an 11–11 record, leading the league in wild pitches. In June 1959, Koufax struck out 16 Philadelphia Phillies to set the record for a night game. On August 31, 1959, he broke that record and tied Bob Feller's major league record for strikeouts in one game with 18 strikeouts, (and broke the modern NL record of 17, by Dizzy Dean in 1933), pitching in Los Angeles against the Giants.[27] In 1959, the Dodgers won a close pennant race against the Milwaukee Braves and the San Francisco Giants and went on to face the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. The opening game of the series was in Chicago, and Koufax pitched two perfect innings in relief, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 11–0. Alston gave him the start in the fifth game, played at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 92,706 fans. He allowed only one run in seven innings, but was charged with the loss in the 1–0 game when Nellie Fox scored on a double play. However, the Dodgers came back to win the Series in Game 6 in Chicago.[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] [edit] Domination (1961–64) [edit] 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] One evening during spring training, Dodger scout Kenny Myers was talking with Koufax and catcher Norm Sherry and asked Koufax to demonstrate his windup. He discovered a hitch in Koufax's windup: he'd rear back far enough that, in his release, his vision was obstructed and he couldn't see the target.[31] The next day, Koufax was pitching for the "B team" in Orlando. His 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. Sherry told him, as he'd been told before, to take something off the ball to get better control. Koufax finally listened and struck out the side. By the time he came out of the game after seven innings, Koufax had struck out eight batters, walked five and given up no hits.[32] Koufax finally broke into the starting rotation permanently. On September 27, Koufax broke the National League record for strikeouts in a season, surpassing Christy Mathewson's 58-year-old mark of 267, set in 1903. Koufax finished the year 18–13, with 269 strikeouts and 96 walks.[33] During the two All-Star Games, Koufax pitched two innings without giving up a run.[34] [edit] 1962 season In 1962, the Dodgers moved to their new ballpark, Dodger Stadium. In contrast to the Los Angeles Coliseum, where Koufax had difficulty pitching due to the 250' left field line, Dodger Stadium was a pitcher-friendly park with large foul territory and a poor hitting background. Pitching in this park, Koufax lowered his home ERA from 4.29 to 1.75.[35] On June 30 against the New York Mets, Koufax threw his first no-hitter; he would finish his career with a then-record four no-hitters. In the first inning of the 5-0 win over the Mets, 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 the 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] That same season, Koufax's pitching hand was injured. In a batting appearance in April, Koufax had been jammed by a pitch from Earl Francis. Soon 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 it would clear up. By July his entire hand was becoming numb and he had to leave some games early. 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. Trying to get back into shape 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] [edit] 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, his second in as many years, by closing out the ninth.[40] Koufax finished the year by winning the pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (306) and ERA (1.88) while also throwing 11 shutouts (only Bob Gibson has pitched more shutouts in a season since then) and leading the Dodgers to the pennant. He won the NL MVP Award, the Cy Young Award (the first unanimous choice), and the Hickok Belt.[41][42] The Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in the 1963 World Series, where Koufax beat Whitey Ford 5 to 2 in Game 1 and struck out 15 batters, breaking Carl Erskine's record of 14 in the 1953 World Series (Bob Gibson would break Koufax's record by striking out 17 Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series). Yogi Berra, after seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, was quoted as saying, "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five."[43] In Game 4, he completed the Dodgers' series sweep of the Yankees with a 2 to 1 victory over Ford, earning the World Series MVP Award for his performance.[44] [edit] 1964 season The 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 first (and currently only) pitcher to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning twice in the National League.[37] On April 22, however, against the St. Louis Cardinals, during the first inning of Koufax's third start, he felt something "let go" in his arm. Koufax ended up getting three cortisone shots for his sore elbow, and he missed three starts. On June 4, playing at Connie Mack Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Koufax walked Richie Allen on a very close full-count pitch. Allen, who was thrown out trying to steal second, was the first and last Phillie to reach base. 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.[45] On August 8, Koufax jammed his pitching arm 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 shutout in which he struck out 13, he could not straighten his arm. He was diagnosed by Dodgers' team physician Robert Kerlan with traumatic arthritis. Koufax finished

the year with an impressive 19–5 record.[46] [edit] Playing in pain (1965–66) [edit] 1965 season The 1965 season started off badly for Koufax. On March 31, the morning after pitching a full game during spring training, 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) and Butazolidin for inflammation. He also applied capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment (called "atomic balm" by baseball players) before each game, and then soaked his arm in a tub of ice.[47] 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 second highest modern day total). His strikeout total set a modern (post-1900) record that lasted until 1973, when Nolan Ryan struck out 383 batters. He 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. Koufax captured his second Cy Young Award (again unanimously).[48][1] Koufax and the Dodgers faced the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. Koufax declined to pitch Game 1 due to his observance of Yom Kippur; with Drysdale pitching, his team was hit hard. 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, with Claude Osteen, Drysdale, and Koufax claiming vital wins to take a 3-2 lead back to Minnesota. In Game 5, Koufax pitched a complete game shutout, winning 7–0; however, 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, throwing a three-hit shutout to clinch the Series. The performance was enough to win him his second World Series MVP award. Also, in 1965 he 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.[49][42][1] [edit] 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 lefthander 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.[50][51] 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. [edit] 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?"[52] 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, divided equally over the next three years, or $167,000 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.[53][54] At the time, Willie Mays was Major League Baseball's highest paid player at $125,000 per year and multi-year contracts were very unusual.[55] 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. They rejoined the team in the last week of spring training.[56] [edit] 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.[57] 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.[58] [edit] 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.[59] 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.[60] 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][61] 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.[62] [edit] 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.[63] "I knew every pitch he was going to throw and still I couldn't hit him."[64] — 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. [edit] Post-playing career 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 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.[65][66] 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.[66] 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).[67] 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.[68] 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.[50][69] In 1999, The Sporting News placed Koufax at number 26 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Baseball Players."[70]

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.[71] 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.[72] [73] On May 14, 2007, Upper Deck Authenticated signed Koufax to an exclusive autograph and memorabilia agreement.[74] [edit] 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 2324.1 1754 713 204 817 2396 [edit] See also List of baseball players who went directly to the major leagues Bonus rule Triple Crown List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins List of Major League Baseball ERA champions List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions List of Major League Baseball wins champions List of pitchers who have struck out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning MLB game Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time Major League Baseball titles leaders Pitchers who have thrown a perfect game List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Los Angeles Dodgers all-time roster [edit] Notes ^ a b c d e "Sandy Koufax Statistics". www.baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-14. ^ "1963 Major League Leaders". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. "1965 Major League Leaders". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. "1966 Major League Leaders". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ a b "Retired Numbers - Kirby Puckett". minnesota.twins.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-10. ^ Solomvits, Sandor. "Yom Kippur and Sandy Koufax". JewishSports.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-15. ^ a b Brody, Seymour. "Koufax Biography". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-15. ^ a b "Koufax Biography". www.hickoksports.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-15. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 19–22. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 22–28; Leavy, pp. 37–40. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 32–39. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 43–44. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 46. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 44–45. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 46–48. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 56–57. ^ Leavy p. 54 ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 70–74. ^ Leavy p. 55 ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 65–66. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 42, 75–94. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 95–97. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 98–99. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 99–100, 295. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 295. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 3, 105–107. ^ Leavy, p. 86. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 117–124; Leavy, pp. 87–90. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 125–138; Leavy, pp. 90–92; "Box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 139–141; "Box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 142–147; Leavy, pp. 93–95. ^ Leavy, p. 101. ^ Leavy, p. 102. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 153–155; Leavy, pp. 102–103. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 157–159; Leavy, pp. 115–116. ^ "First game box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. "Second game box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ James, p. 233; Koufax and Linn, pp. 127–128; Leavy, p. 116. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 167–169; Leavy, p. 119; "Player of the Month Award". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ a b "9-Pitches, 9-Strikes, Side Retired". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 165–176; Leavy, pp. 120–121. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 176–177; Neyer, pp. 111–118. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 181–183; Leavy, pp. 122–123. ^ "1963 National League Statistics and Awards". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ a b "The Hickok Belt". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ "Sandy Koufax Biography". ESPN SportsCentury. Retrieved on May 24, 2005. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 184–216; Leavy, pp. 132–143; "World Series MVP Award". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. "1963 World Series box scores and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 219–221; Leavy, pp. 151–153. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 222–228; Leavy, pp. 155–157. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 228–239; Leavy, pp. 157–160. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 234–240; Leavy, p. 160; "Single-Season Leaders for Strikeouts". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ Koufax and Linn, pp. 256–268; Leavy, pp. 169–195; "1965 World Series box scores and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ a b "Sandy Koufax". www.baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. ^ Attiyeh, Mike. "The five best pitching duels ever". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. "Box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ Leavy, p. 205 ^ Leavy, pp. 200–207. ^ "Sic Transit Tradition". Time. Time, Inc. (1966-04-08). Retrieved on 2008-04-30. ^ "Double Play". Time. Time, Inc. (1966-03-25). Retrieved on 2008-04-30. ^ Leavy, pp. 207–210. ^ Leavy, pp. 222–236. ^ Leavy, pp. 236–239; "Box score and play by play". Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ "No Hitter Records". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. "Progressive Leaders for Hits Allowed/9IP". Retrieved on 2007-02-17. "Progressive Leaders for

Strikeouts/9IP". Retrieved on 2007-02-17.. ^ 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. Retrieved on 2007-02-14. ^ "MVP and Cy Young Awards". www.baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-14. ^ 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. ^ Neyer and James, pp. 270–271; Leavy, pp. 6–15. ^ Koufax and Linn, p. 153; Leavy, p. 24. ^ Leavy, p. 251. ^ a b Schwartz, Larry. "ESPN Classic - Koufax dominating in '65 Series". espn.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-18. ^ "Dodgers Retired Numbers". mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. ^ Leavy, pp. 255–258. ^ "Koufax returns to Dodgertown". Addict Baseball and Football Forum. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. ^ "TSN Presents - Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". sportingnews.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. ^ "The All-Century Team". mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. "Koufax makes appearance at World Series". CNN/SI. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. ^ http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/642563.html ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/27/sportsline/main2735685.shtml ^ "Upper Deck News & Events". upperdeck.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-20. [edit] References Thomas Boswell: "Koufax: Passing the Art Along", in How Life Imitates the World Series, Penguin Books, New York, NY, 1982, pp. 50–55. Edward Gruver (2000). Koufax. Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 0-87833-157-3. Bill James (1988). The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1988. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-35171-1. Sandy Koufax; Ed Linn (1966). Koufax. New York: Viking Press. Jane Leavy (2003). Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy. Perennial. ISBN 0-06-019533-9. Rob Neyer (2006). Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders: A Complete Guide to the Worst Decisions and Stupidest Moments in Baseball History. New York: Simon & Shuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-8491-2. Rob Neyer; Bill James (2004). The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers. New York: Simon & Shuster. ISBN 0-7432-6158-5. David Pietrusza, Matthew Silverman & Michael Gershman, ed. (2000). Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. Total/Sports Illustrated. "Sandy Koufax Biography". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved on June 21, 2008. "Sandy Koufax Career Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2005. "Sandy Koufax Biography". ESPN SportsCentury. Retrieved on May 24, 2005. [edit] External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Sandy KoufaxBaseball Hall of Fame – Member biography Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube Sandy Koufax at the Internet Movie Database sportingnews.com The Sporting News Baseball's 100 Greatest Players (#26) BaseballLibrary - biography and career highlights Jewish Major League career leaders [show]Succession boxes 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 [show]v • d • eLos Angeles Dodgers 1959 World Series Champions 2 Don Demeter | 4 Duke Snider | 5 Norm Larker | 6 Carl Furillo | 8 Ron Fairly | 9 Wally Moon | 14 Gil Hodges | 19 Jim Gilliam | 20 Rip Repulski | 22 Johnny Podres | 23 Don Zimmer | 29 Chuck Essegian | 30 Maury Wills | 32 Sandy Koufax | 35 Johnny Klippstein | 38 Roger Craig | 40 Stan Williams | 41 Clem Labine | 43 Charlie Neal | 44 Johnny Roseboro | 45 Chuck Churn | 51 Larry Sherry | 53 Don Drysdale | 58 Joe Pignatano Manager 24 Walter Alston [show]v • d • eLos Angeles Dodgers 1963 World Series Champions 3 Willie Davis | 6 Ron Fairly | 8 Johnny Roseboro | 12 Tommy Davis | 14 Moose Skowron | 16 Ron Perranoski | 19 Jim Gilliam | 22Johnny Podres | 25 Frank Howard | 30 Maury Wills | 32 Sandy Koufax | 44 Dick Tracewski | 53 Don Drysdale Manager 24 Walter Alston [show]v • d • eLos Angeles Dodgers 1965 World Series Champions 3

Willie Davis | 5 Jim Lefebvre | 6 Ron Fairly | 8 Johnny Roseboro | 9 Wally Moon | 11 John Kennedy | 15 Bob Miller | 16 Ron Perranoski | 19 Jim Gilliam | 21 Jim Brewer | 23 Claude Osteen | 28 Wes Parker | 30 Maury Wills | 31 Don LeJohn | 32 Sandy Koufax | 39 Howie Reed | 41 Lou Johnson | 43 Willie Crawford | 44 Dick Tracewski | 53 Don Drysdale Manager 24 Walter Alston [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball All-Century Team Pitchers Nolan Ryan · Sandy Koufax · Cy Young · Roger Clemens · Bob Gibson · Walter Johnson · Warren Spahn · Christy Mathewson · Lefty Grove Infielders Johnny Bench · Yogi Berra · Lou Gehrig · Mark McGwire · Jackie Robinson · Rogers Hornsby · Mike Schmidt · Brooks Robinson · Cal Ripken, Jr. · Ernie Banks · Honus Wagner Outfielders Babe Ruth · Hank Aaron · Ted Williams · Willie Mays · Joe DiMaggio · Mickey Mantle · Ty Cobb · Ken Griffey, Jr. · Pete Rose · Stan Musial [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball | MLB All-Time Team Lou Gehrig • Rogers Hornsby • Honus Wagner • Mike Schmidt (Infielders) • Johnny Bench (Catcher) • Paul Molitor (Designated hitter) Ted Williams • Willie Mays • Babe Ruth (Outfielders) • Walter Johnson • Sandy Koufax • Dennis Eckersley (Pitchers) • Casey Stengel (Manager) [show]v • d • eNational League MVP Award 1931: Frisch | 1932: Klein | 1933: Hubbell | 1934: Dean | 1935: Hartnett | 1936: Hubbell | 1937: Medwick | 1938: Lombardi | 1939: Walters | 1940: McCormick | 1941: Camilli | 1942: Cooper | 1943: Musial | 1944: Marion | 1945: Cavarretta | 1946: Musial | 1947: Elliott | 1948: Musial | 1949: J. Robinson | 1950: Konstanty | 1951: Campanella | 1952: Sauer | 1953: Campanella | 1954: Mays | 1955: Campanella | 1956: Newcombe | 1957: Aaron | 1958: Banks | 1959: Banks | 1960: Groat | 1961: F. Robinson | 1962: Wills | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Boyer | 1965: Mays | 1966: Clemente | 1967: Cepeda | 1968: B. Gibson | 1969: McCovey | 1970: Bench | 1971: Torre | 1972: Bench | 1973: Rose | 1974: Garvey | 1975: Morgan | 1976: Morgan | 1977: Foster | 1978: Parker | 1979: Hernandez & Stargell | 1980: Schmidt | 1981: Schmidt | 1982: Murphy | 1983: Murphy | 1984: Sandberg | 1985: McGee | 1986: Schmidt | 1987: Dawson | 1988: K. Gibson | 1989: Mitchell | 1990: Bonds | 1991: Pendleton | 1992: Bonds | 1993: Bonds | 1994: Bagwell | 1995: Larkin | 1996: Caminiti | 1997: Walker | 1998: Sosa | 1999: Jones | 2000: Kent | 2001: Bonds | 2002: Bonds | 2003: Bonds | 2004: Bonds | 2005: Pujols | 2006: Howard | 2007: Rollins| 2008: Pujols [show]v • d • eMajor 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 [show]v • d • eWorld Series MVP Award 1955: Podres | 1956: Larsen | 1957: Burdette | 1958: Turley | 1959: Sherry | 1960: Richardson | 1961: Ford | 1962: Terry | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Gibson | 1965: Koufax | 1966: F. Robinson | 1967: Gibson | 1968: Lolich | 1969: Clendenon | 1970: B. Robinson | 1971: Clemente | 1972: Tenace | 1973: Jackson | 1974: Fingers | 1975: Rose | 1976: Bench | 1977: Jackson | 1978: Dent | 1979: Stargell | 1980: Schmidt | 1981: Yeager, Guerrero, & Cey | 1982: Porter | 1983: Dempsey | 1984: Trammell | 1985: Saberhagen | 1986: Knight | 1987: Viola | 1988: Hershiser | 1989: Stewart | 1990: Rijo | 1991: Morris | 1992: Borders | 1993: Molitor | 1994: No Series | 1995: Glavine | 1996: Wetteland | 1997: Hernandez | 1998: Brosius | 1999: Rivera | 2000: Jeter | 2001: Johnson & Schilling | 2002: Glaus | 2003: Beckett | 2004: Ramirez | 2005: Dye | 2006: Eckstein | 2007: Lowell | 2008: Hamels [show]v • d • eBabe Ruth Award 1949: Page | 1950: Coleman | 1951: Rizzuto | 1952: Mize | 1953: Martin | 1954: Rhodes | 1955: Podres | 1956: Larsen | 1957: Burdette | 1958: Howard | 1959: Sherry | 1960: Mazeroski | 1961: Ford | 1962: Terry | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Gibson | 1965: Koufax | 1966: F. Robinson | 1967: Brock | 1968: Lolich | 1969: Weis | 1970: B. Robinson | 1971: Clemente | 1972: Tenace | 1973: Campaneris | 1974: Green | 1975: Tiant | 1976: Bench | 1977: Jackson | 1978: Dent | 1979: Stargell | 1980: McGraw | 1981: Cey | 1982: Sutter | 1983: Dempsey | 1984: Morris | 1985: Saberhagen | 1986: Knight | 1987: Viola | 1988: Hershiser | 1989: Stewart | 1990: Hatcher | 1991: Morris | 1992: Winfield | 1993: Molitor | 1994: No Game | 1995: Glavine | 1996: Fielder | 1997: Alou | 1998: Brosius | 1999: Rivera | 2000: Jeter | 2001: Johnson & Schilling | 2002: Glaus | 2003: Beckett | 2004: Foulke | 2005: Dye | 2006: Eckstein | 2007: Papelbon [show]v • d • eHutch Award 1965: Mantle | 1966: Koufax | 1967: Yastrzemski | 1968: Rose | 1969: Kaline | 1970: Conigliaro | 1971: Torre | 1972: Tolan | 1973: Hiller | 1974: Thompson | 1975: Nolan | 1976: John | 1977: McCovey | 1978: Stargell | 1979: Brock | 1980: Brett | 1981: Bench | 1982: Thornton | 1983: Knight | 1984: Robinson | 1985: Reuschel | 1986: Leonard | 1987: Molitor | 1988:

Oester | 1989: Dravecky | 1990: Bream | 1991: Wegman | 1992: Lansford | 1993: Olerud | 1994: Dawson | 1995: Abbott | 1996: Vizquel | 1997: Davis | 1998: Cone | 1999: Casey | 2000: Giambi | 2001: Schilling | 2002: Salmon | 2003: Moyer | 2004: Hoffman | 2005: Biggio | 2006: Loretta | 2007: Sweeney | 2008: Lester [show]v • d • eSports 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 [show]v • d • eLos Angeles Dodgers Formerly the Brooklyn Robins and the Brooklyn Dodgers • Based in Los Angeles, California The Franchise Seasons • Records • Players • Managers • Broadcasters • Hall of Famers Ballparks Washington Park • Eastern Park • Washington Park • Ebbets Field • Roosevelt Stadium • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Dodger Stadium Culture Dodger Dog • This is Next Year • Fernandomania • Kirk Gibson Walk-Off Home Run • Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game • Flag Burning Rivalries Subway Series • Yankees-Dodgers rivalry • Dodgers-Giants rivalry • Freeway Series Important Figures Jackie Robinson • Pee Wee Reese • Roy Campanella • Leo Durocher • Walter Alston • Burleigh Grimes • Willie Davis • Gil Hodges • Carl Furillo • Kirk Gibson • Willie Keeler • Don Newcombe • Johnny Roseboro • Sandy Koufax • Tommy Lasorda • Duke Snider • Dazzy Vance • Johnny Podres • Zack Wheat • Don Drysdale • Maury Wills • Steve Garvey • Mike Scioscia • Bill Russell • Davey Lopes • Don Sutton • Ron Cey • Fernando Valenzuela • Orel Hershiser • Mike Piazza • Eric Karros • Eric Gagné • Charlie Byrne • Charles Ebbets • Larry MacPhail • Walter O'Malley • Branch Rickey • Vin Scully • Russell Martin • Joe Torre • Manny Ramirez Retired Numbers 1 • 2 • 4 • 19 • 20 • 24 • 32 • 39 • 42 • 53 Key Personnel Owner: Frank McCourt • General Manager: Ned Colletti • Manager: Joe Torre Championships (6) 1955 • 1959 • 1963 • 1965 • 1981 • 1988 League Pennants American Association: 1889 • National League: 1890 • 1899 • 1900 • 1916 • 1920 • 1941 • 1947 • 1949 • 1952 • 1953 • 1955 • 1956 • 1959 • 1963 • 1965 • 1966 • 1974 • 1977 • 1978 • 1981 • 1988 Division Titles Western: 1974 • 1977 • 1978 • 1981 (first half) • 1983 • 1985 • 1988 • 1995 • 2004 • 2008 • Wild Card: 1996 • 2006 Minors Player overview • AAA: Albuquerque Isotopes • AA: Chattanooga Lookouts • A: Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino • Great Lakes Loons • Rookie: Ogden Raptors • Arizona League Dodgers • Dominican Summer Dodgers [show] Seasons (126) 1880s 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888 • 1889 1890s 1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899 1900s 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 1910s 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 1920s 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 1930s 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 1940s 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 1950s 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 1960s 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 1970s 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 1980s 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 1990s 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 2000s 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 [show]v • d • eLos 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 [show]v • d • eBaseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972 BBWAA Vote Yogi Berra (85.61%) • Sandy Koufax (86.87%) • Early Wynn (76.01%) Veterans Committee Lefty Gomez • Will Harridge • Ross Youngs Negro League Committee Josh Gibson • Buck Leonard J. G. Taylor Spink Award Frank Graham [show]v • d • ePitchers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Grover Cleveland Alexander • Chief Bender • Mordecai Brown • Ray Brown • Jim Bunning • Steve Carlton • Jack Chesbro • John Clarkson • Andy Cooper • Stan Coveleski • Candy

Cummings • Leon Day • Dizzy Dean • Martin Dihigo • Don Drysdale • Dennis Eckersley • Red Faber • Bob Feller • Rollie Fingers • Whitey Ford • Bill Foster • Jim Galvin • Bob Gibson • Lefty Gomez • Goose Gossage • Burleigh Grimes • Lefty Grove • Jesse Haines • Waite Hoyt • Carl Hubbell • Catfish Hunter • Fergie Jenkins • Walter Johnson • Addie Joss • Tim Keefe • Sandy Koufax • Bob Lemon • Ted Lyons • Juan Marichal • Rube Marquard • Christy Mathewson • Joe McGinnity • Jose Mendez • Hal Newhouser • Kid Nichols • Phil Niekro • Satchel Paige • Jim Palmer • Herb Pennock • Gaylord Perry • Eddie Plank • Charley Radbourn • Eppa Rixey • Robin Roberts • Bullet Rogan • Red Ruffing • Amos Rusie • Nolan Ryan • Tom Seaver • Hilton Smith • Warren Spahn • Bruce Sutter • Don Sutton • Dazzy Vance • Rube Waddell • Ed Walsh • Mickey Welch • Hoyt Wilhelm • Joe Williams • Vic Willis • Early Wynn • Cy Young [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball on NBC Related programs Baseball Night in America · Major League Baseball: An Inside Look · Major League Baseball Game of the Week · Major League Baseball on NBC Radio · Monday Night Baseball Related articles The Baseball Network · Ratings for NBC telecasts · World Series television ratings · Television contracts Commentators List of NBC broadcasters · All-Star Game · ALCS · ALDS · NLCS · NLDS · World Series Key figures Marv Albert · Len Berman · Skip Caray · Bob Costas · Leo Durocher · Dick Enberg · Joe Garagiola · Gayle Gardner · Curt Gowdy · Jim Gray · Bryant Gumbel · Greg Gumbel · Merle Harmon · Sandy Koufax · Tony Kubek · Ron Luciano · Bill Macatee · Jon Miller · Monte Moore · Joe Morgan · Lindsey Nelson · Pee Wee Reese · Ted Robinson · Vin Scully · Tom Seaver · Jim Simpson · Hannah Storm · Chuck Thompson · Bob Uecker · Maury Wills · Bob Wolff Lore All-Century Team · "The Catch" · Grand Slam Single · Jeffrey Maier · "The Sandberg Game" · "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" 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 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 Persondata NAME Koufax, Sanford ALTERNATIVE NAMES Braun, Sanford (birth name); Koufax, Sandy SHORT DESCRIPTION American baseball player DATE OF BIRTH 20 December 1935 PLACE OF BIRTH Brooklyn, New York DATE OF DEATH PLACE OF DEATH Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Koufax" Categories: Featured articles | 1935 births | Living people | National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees | Major League Baseball pitchers | Brooklyn Dodgers players | Los Angeles Dodgers players | National League All-Stars | Major League Baseball players from New York | National League Pitching Triple Crown winners | National League wins champions | National League ERA champions | National League strikeout champions | Cy Young Award winners | Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a perfect game | Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a no-hitter | Jewish baseball players | Jewish American sportspeople | Major League Baseball announcers | Columbia University alumni | University of Cincinnati alumni | American basketball players | Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players | People from Brooklyn | American Jews | Major League Baseball players with retired numbers