amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. His one-word identity spread over all of baseball. Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers making a pitch, 1960s. His work ("Oh, brother!") Brian M. Endsley, Finding the Left Arm of God: Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1960-1963 (2015), McFarland, 296pp. Frank Finch, Sandy Koufax Hurls No-Hit, 5-0 Win, Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1962, p E-1. Koufax started 41 games that year as he did the previous year. Koufax was obviously one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, but his breaking balls were what was so devastating. He also used Empirin with codeine for pain, which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning to make it through a game. He was the first iconic sports figure to emerge in Southern California after Major League Baseball arrived on the West Coast. Is that coincidence, or are we being punished (after the strike) for doing the wrong thing?". By 1958,meanwhile, the Dodgerss organization leftBrooklyn for the promised land of Los Angeles, breaking the hearts ofmillions of New Yorkers as they went. On Sept. 21, 1962, at St. Louis, Koufax was making his first start in more than two months. 1960 baseball trading card, Sandy Koufax, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers. I would think the last two or three innings -- that's as well as I've pitched.". I'm 46, and I just barely qualify. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. He needed Explore Which team has won the most World Series since 2000? National League Most Valuable Player of the Year in 1963. Roscoe McGowen, Dodgers Top Pirates, 4-0; Koufax Blanks Pittsburgh; Brooks Need 7 for Pennant, New York Times, September 4, 1955. . On bad days hed have to bend his neck to get his face closer to his left hand so that he could shave. And I knew every pitch he was going to throw fastball, breaking ball or whatever. The Yankees scored twice in the eighth inning when Tony Kubek singled with one out and Tom Tresh homered with two outs to cut the lead to 52. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." For there was a time in his career, at one seasons end in 1960, when he threw his glove and spikes into the trash can, believing he was through with baseball. WebIn this game, Mantle would hit a homer off Koufax in the 7th inning ( Mantles 15th in World Series play) which tied the game temporarily at 1-1. [8], 1963 World Series (40): Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L.) He then scored a moment later on Willie Davis' sacrifice fly. Use of his left arm was severely limited when he wasnt pitching. Bavasi began by meeting separately with each man. 32, Sandy Koufax. Everyone knew he was pitching with traumatic arthritis in his left elbow, but how bad could it be when he pitched like that? At Lafayette High, he became team captain and ranked second in division scoring. He called it "unfair territory. Jim Bouton, making his first World Series start, dueled Drysdale throughout, permitting only four hits in seven innings for a losing cause. Since then, no left-hander has had more wins in a season nor a lower ERA (Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton had 27 wins in 1972). Also, of the seven championships from the Dodgers franchise, it remains the only one won at home. However, that day happened to be Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish religion. 2 How fast did Sandy Koufax throw a baseball? Even for a pitcher, Koufax was a weak hitter, batting just . Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer. Despite injuries that limited Mickey Mantle to just 65 games, the Yankees went 10457 to win their fourth straight American League pennantthis one by 10+12 games. And that loss was in his only career one-hitter. The final out came on Joe Pepitone's drive that backed Dodger right fielder Ron Fairly up against the bullpen gate to make the catch of a ball that would have been a home run in Yankee Stadium. Koufax would finish a very close second to Pittsburgh hitter, Roberto Clemente, in the National League voting that year for the regular season Most Valuable Player. 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. Charles Maher, Frank Finch, Bavasi Doubts Koufax and Drysdale Will Sign, Los Angeles Times, March 23, 1966, p. B-1. Portion of a Topps baseball card from the 1960s featuring ERA leaders of the day. Ford set the Dodgers down in order in the first inning, but got into trouble in the second inning. Koufax and Drysdale Sign Pactsas Movie Actors, Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1966, p. B-1. Born: Click for copy. Among Hendley's victories was a four-hitter, a 2-1 Cubs victory at Wrigley Field, against the Dodgers -- and Koufax -- six days after the perfect game. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The 60th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff that matched the American League (AL) champion and two-time defending World Series champion New York Yankees against the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers; the Dodgers swept the Series in four games to secure their second championship title in five years, and their third in franchise history. As well as he was throwing and setting people down, there was very little chance of overcoming him. . And what a great lesson that is. Dodger team physician Robert Kerlan diagnosed him with traumatic arthritis. WebSandy Koufax Edition - Baseball Roundtable Braves right-handed pitcher (and 1957 World Series hero, Lew Burdette hit as many home runs and drove in as many runs off Sandy He still held his fork in his left hand, but sometimes he had to bend closer to the plate to get the food into his mouth. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. ". His mother later remarried when Sandy was nine, to Irving Koufax, who Sandy regarded as his father. Sandy Koufax, delivering his magic from the pitching mound during the mid-1960s. 1966 book Koufax by Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn. His ERAs were 1.88, 1.74, 2.04 and 1.73. As of mid-year 2010, Sandy Koufax was still active, appearing for example, at the May 27, 2010 White House reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month where he greeted President Obama who later joked with the audience that he and Sandy had something in common: We are both lefties, said the President. Southern California felt a warm and close relationship with No. In 2007, Koufax was drafted by the 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 makes final pitch of 63 World Series. "He actually sent me a card," Hendley said. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Hendley finally allowed one-hit the only hit in the game for either side. We didn't get American League baseball until 1961 during my youth in Southern California, and even then, for most Dodger fans, the Angels were a joke. In a six-year big-league career, James hit 29 home runs. Gibson broke his leg before the game and Koufax was knocked out without completing an inning. And the run he surrendered, in the fifth inning, was unearned. After that, who knows? The Dodgers faltered that season, going 80 and 82 for the year, finishing sixth in the ten-team National League. Video: 9/9/65 [emailprotected]: Koufax fans 14 in perfect game. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). And seven of the 22, including Koufax's, have been decided by 1-0 scores. On the Dodgers, along with Koufax, were other notables, not the least of whom was Don Drysdale, the other Dodger power pitcher from the mid-1960s. 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. Koufax pitched two relief innings in Game 1 of that series and started Game 5 at the Los Angeles Coliseum before more than 92,000 fans. In that game he allowed only one run in seven innings, but the Dodgers lost, 1-0. Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee catcher known for his quips and his play. Fifty years ago on October 6, at the tender age of 30, Sandy Koufax bowed out of baseball. Considering the deadline pressure, SportsChannel is doing a nice job condensing the weekday Giants and A's games into one-hour packages ("SportsChannel Light"), an especially rewarding treat if you haven't heard the score. amzn_assoc_linkid = "8c083521b8631f9e22b58f0cb91ed1bc"; Koufax also struck out three pinch-hitters, including Harry Bright to end the game. In fact, at that seasons end he threw his glove and spikes into the trash. This time, it was a pitcher's duel. Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; And to add class and a coating of brilliance to their tandem achievement, the game was narrated by a man who has risen to the level of national icon because of his genius in the booth, Vin Scully. from the SABR BioProject, More Sandy Koufax Pages at Baseball Reference, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Sandy Koufax about to autograph a baseball for the late TV newsman, Tim Russert, at social gathering. With the count 2-and-2, Koufax was a strike away from getting out of the jam. Jack Doyle, Pitcher Perfect, 1963-1966, The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The storyline isn't only that he pitched a perfect game 50 years ago tonight, but rather that the opposing pitcher, one Bob Hendley, pitched a one-hitter while Koufax was perfecting his resum. Koufaxalso talked about his responsibility to pitch well enough during pennant races to help the Dodgers get into and win the World Series, thereby helping his teammates boost and even double their incomes by adding World Series bonus money. Photo, Ben Olender / L.A. Times. The incident garnered national attention as an example of conflict between social pressures and personal beliefs. He did have two home runs. . Sandy Koufax, the L.A. Dodgers star pitcher, soaking his arm in a whirlpool after a game in April 1964. Sports fans around the country were saying how the Dodgers were going to blow it again. 32 -- like Joe D. in New York and Johnny U. in Baltimore. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 3) Richie Ashburn - went 11 for 51 against Koufax for a .216 batting average with 0 HRs and 0 RBIs. Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn, Sandy Koufax, New York: Viking Press, August 30, 1966, 299 pp. The Dodgers' lone hit came two innings later when Lou Johnson's opposite-field bloop landed just beyond first base and rolled into foul ground for a double. But this pinnacle performance of pitching wouldn't be a prominent part of our past if this oft-times pedestrian pitcher had permitted one more hit in his extraordinary eight innings. Robert Creamer, An Urgent Matter Of One Index Finger, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 1963. At the time, many thought that Sandy Koufax was the best pitcher of his era. He was born Sanford Braun, but took the name of his stepfather after his parents divorced and his mother remarried. Frank Finch; Koufax Wins, Shelved by Injury,Los Angeles Times, Jul 13, 1962, p. C-1. Hendley never had told his players of his baseball past. Sorry to see the Giants join the pitiful parade of teams befouling the home-plate backstop with advertising. He retired 27 consecutive batters without allowing any to reach base. On October 6th, 1963, in Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, Koufax faced the Yankees a second time. In the top of the second, the Dodgers scored four runs, including a three-run home run by Roseboro. 196 against him with three home runs, nine RBI, 16 walks and 30 strikeouts (in 33 games). "I was just getting people out. The Koufax perfect game against the Cubs was also noted for the play-by-play call by broadcaster Vin Scully, the venerable voice of the Dodgers for more than 50 years. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; WebThe youngest man ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sandy Koufax, was no different. (Age 30-276d) The storyline isn't only that he pitched a perfect game 50 years ago tonight, but rather that the opposing pitcher, one Bob Hendley, pitched a one-hitter while Koufax was perfecting his resum. I was merely trying to meet the ball and was astonished to see it land on the roof in right field, James said. Frank Finch, Its a No-Hitter for Sandy And 9 Whiffs, Too!, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1966, p. G-1. With one out, right fielder Frank Howard doubled into left center field. Paul Richards, who managed ball clubs in both leagues, said of Koufax, This man has a sense of responsibility beyond gain and glory. Once in1966 whena television network offered him $25,000 to allow their cameras to follow him around, Koufax agreedto do it for $35,000, and then only if the money was divided so that every Dodger player, coach, and trainer received $1,000. Sanford Koufax, who was actually born Sanford Braun, was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1955-1957) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1966). Podres delivered a six-hitter through 8+13 innings; ace reliever Ron Perranoski, also a left-hander, got the last two outs and the save, and the Dodgers headed home with 20 Series lead.