OLDENBURG - Some of the people in this story, the strangest Sandy Koufax story ever told, are dead . award was presented to one pitcher, rather than one in each league . Exceeded rookie limits during 1956 season, View Player Bio Years later he recalled, "That winter was when I really started working out. Johnny Logan, the first batter Koufax faced, hit a bloop single. [91] He started 41 games (for the second year in a row); only two left-handers have started more games in any season over the ensuing years through 2021.[92]. Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . 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. He won both the Cy Young Award and NL Most Valuable Player Award that season. 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. We will offer fans the opportunity to buy signed and unsigned items. [11], Koufax attended Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, where he was better known for basketball than for baseball. In 1965 he set a major league record with 382 strikeouts; it was broken in 1973 by Nolan Ryan, but remains the top mark for NL pitchers and left-handers. The hard-throwing left-hander was baseball's most dominant pitcher until elbow arthritis forced him to retire at the age of 30. Sandy Koufax. Sandy Koufax struck out eighteen players twice during his career, once during the 1959 season and once during . As one of the few Jewish players in baseball, he encountered bigotry from opposing players and even within his own clubhouse. [112] Neither marriage produced children. Despite his string of amazing performances, Koufax pitched in pain throughout the 1965-1966 campaigns due to arthritis in his left elbow. On July 20 he hit the second and last home run of his career, coincidentally again in Milwaukee, a three-run shot to propel the team to a 5-4 win; it was his only game with three runs batted in. 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. Tired of constantly taking medication and concerned about his future health, Koufax stunned the baseball world by announcing his retirement on November 18, 1966. "[109][110], In 1967, Koufax signed a 10-year contract with NBC for US$1million (equivalent to $8.1million in 2021) to be a broadcaster on the Saturday Game of the Week. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. What I don't understand is how he lost five, said Hall of Famer Yogi Berra in 1963. The future baseball great took on his more familiar surname at age 9 when his mother, Evelyn, remarried attorney Irving Koufax. He and Oscar Robertson are neck-and-neck in the debate over the greatest UC athlete of all time. 2023 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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). [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. Actually, he would let you look at it. 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. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. [21] The Pirates, however, failed to offer Koufax a contract until after he was already committed to the Dodgers. 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. He had two wins in 1955, which were both shutouts. He played it through his youth, high school and even earned himself a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. He made 43 appearances, had 27 complete games (eight shutouts) and 382 strikeouts in 335 2/3 innings. [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. An outstanding schoolboy athlete, Koufax starred at basketball and barely played baseball during his time at Lafayette High School. Sanford Braun Age and Birth Information You must have idea about Sanford Braun age! 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. $44.99 $ 44. The Koufax years of 1963 to 1966 are the finest four-year stretch of pitching. 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.". Koufax played 12 years at the MLB level, all with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. 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. [51], In 1962, the Dodgers moved from the Los Angeles Coliseum, which had a 250-foot (75m) left-field line an enormous disadvantage to lefthanded pitchers to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. [43], In early 1960, Koufax asked Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi to trade him because he was not getting enough playing time. [10] He later earned a partial scholarship. MLB Debut 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. Signed items will be very limited, and many items will not be restocked once they are sold out. On June 13 in Milwaukee, Koufax hit the first home run of his career off Warren Spahn, providing the winning margin in a 2-1 victory in Milwaukee. He pitched well enoughBaltimore 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. With his third no-hitter in three years Koufax tied Feller as the only modern-era pitchers to hurl three no-hitters.[72]. In 1959, Koufax struck out 18 Giants in nine innings and set a major league record for strikeouts in two games with 31. At the age of thirty-six, he became the youngest player to get elected for Basketball hall of fame. He was the first pitcher in history to average more than one strikeout per inning, and the first to allow fewer than seven hits per nine innings pitched. 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. Sandy Koufax was born as Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935. In a start in Cincinnati his finger split open after one inning. 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". [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. By JOE REEDY June 18, 2022. [120] He was also named that year as one of the 30 players on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. But this past summer, almost 60 years after the Hall of Fame pitcher sat out a World Series game to observe . Rookie Status: Sandy Koufax is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. His mother was remarried when he was nine, to Irving Koufax. His parents were Evelyn (ne Lichtenstein) and Jack Braun, Sephardic Jews of Hungarian descent.6The family lived in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. "[126][127] Obama directly acknowledged the high esteem in which Koufax is held: "This is a pretty distinguished group," he said of the invited guests, which included members of the House and Senate, two justices of the Supreme Court, Olympic athletes, entrepreneurs, rabbinical scholars, "and Sandy Koufax." Allen, who was thrown out trying to steal second, was the only Phillie to reach base that day. His reputation was marred, however, by the university's child abuse sex scandal in 2011, which resulted in his dismissal. Koufax made his debut for the Dodgers in 1955. 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, The game has a cleanness. Welcome sports fans and collectors toSandyKoufax.com, the first and only authorized and approved website by Sandy Koufax. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. 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. On May 15, the restriction on sending Koufax down to the minors was lifted. December 30, 1935 "[68] In Game 4, Koufax completed the Dodgers' series sweep with a 21 victory over Ford, clinching the Series MVP Award for his performance. 5. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 01:19. HarperCollins. 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. He had six exemplary seasons in the 1960s. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, January 17, 11:08PM. us, High School: Lafayette HS (Brooklyn, NY), Schools: Columbia University (New York, NY), University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH), Debut: Or write about sports? The man never refused to give up and is now living his last few days in privacy with his family, away from the cameras. On May 23, he pitched a 1-0, one-hit shutout in Pittsburgh, allowing only a second-inning single by pitcher Bennie Daniels. Instead, the Dodgers were swept in four games, not scoring a single run in the last three. Koufax was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1972, becoming at age 36 the youngest player ever elected. 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. 3 Sandy Koufax Quotes About Life "There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only by a single interest but by a common goal. 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). [88], Koufax and Drysdale did not report to spring training in February. Framed Sandy Koufax - Flying Pitch with Score Board Black and White - Autograph Replica Print. [33], The year 1956 was not very different from 1955 for Koufax. He is married to Jane Purucker Clarke. Traumatic arthritis in his elbow ended Koufaxs career early due to a threat of permanent disability. 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 second time, I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball. Throughout his career, Koufax relied heavily on two pitches. "When he (Koufax) first came up, he couldn't throw a ball inside the batting cage," said Hall of Fame teammate Duke Snider. Koufax, at age 36 in 1972, became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 11,275th in major league history) 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. The Dodgers unveiled a statue of Sandy Koufax on Saturday, the second such structure in the center field plaza at Dodger Stadium, a stone's throw away from the Jackie Robinson statue that was . The game also set a record for the fewest hits ever in a major league contest,[79][80] thanks to a one-hitter thrown by the opposing pitcher, Bob Hendley of the Cubs, who only allowed only two batters to reach base. The highly favored Los Angeles Dodgers had dropped the first game of the World Series. [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. of 27, 26 and 25 . LOS ANGELES Sandy Koufax was 19 years old when he stepped into the home clubhouse of the team he'd grown up in Brooklyn watching, the one that by the time Koufax turned 22 would move to Los . The former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher undoubtedly had a far higher net worth because players were not paid as richly as they are today. In August of 1972 Cooperstown welcomed a star-studded group of inductees for the Class of 1972. Arrives before Christmas Only 16 left in stock - order soon. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He was the first pitcher to record 300 strikeouts three times, and set a record with 97 games of at least 10 strikeouts, also later broken by Ryan; he twice tied a modern record by striking out 18 batters in a game. Sandy Koufax is a legendary figure in baseball history He was a left-handed pitcher who played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955-1966. 99. On June 4, 1972, Koufax's uniform No . Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Doyel: Sandy Koufax made the Hall of Fame, but not this semi-pro team in Oldenburg, Indiana. About Sandy Koufax. Nothing else matters, and nothing else will do." Sandy Koufax I can't picture people talking about me 50 years from now. Koufax served as a minor league instructor for the Dodgers in the 1970s, but largely remained out of the baseball spotlight. His second marriage, to personal trainer Kimberly Francis, lasted from 1985 to 1998. Do you have a sports website? [2][102] Koufax and Juan Marichal are the only two pitchers to have more than one 25-win season in the post-World War II era, with each man recording three. Sandy Koufax 24 X 18 X 1.5 Inch Premium Canvas Framed Art Print Artwork Signed By Artist To Stars, WINFORD WRealArt (280) $199.95 1965 SANDY KOUFAX No-Hitter #4 Photo Print - Vintage Baseball Poster, Rare Baseball Card, Baseball Card Collector, Baseball Card Art DingerStudios (979) $32.00 FREE shipping The hard-throwing left-hander was the most dominant pitcher in baseball until elbow arthritis forced an early retirement at age 30. Sandy Koufax Career Stats Leagues Statistics including batting, fielding, prospect rankings and more on Baseball-Reference.com He was previously married to Kimberly Francis and Anne Heath Widmark. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He started playing basketball for the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst local community center team. I can see how he won 25 games. Koufax walked Hank Aaron on four pitches to load the bases, then struck out Bobby Thomson on a full count. Koufax was an immediate beneficiary of the change, lowering his ERA at home from 4.29 to 1.75. Despite giving up on his curveball early in the game after failing to throw strikes with it in the first two innings, and pitching the rest of the game relying almost entirely on fastballs, Koufax threw a three-hit shutout to clinch the Series. You don't have to wait for the reviews. [55], Koufax had a strong season despite an injured pitching hand. [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). By July, though, his entire hand was becoming numb and he was unable to complete some games. He is the inspiration for my site's whimsical "Sabbathmetrics" series (examining whether Jewish ballplayers do better or worse on the Sabbath). There will alsobe items offered where 100 percent of the sale goes to charity and those items will be clearly marked. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [74], On June 20, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets, Koufax pitched his second one-hitter, allowing only a fifth-inning home run by Jim Hickman before the Dodgers came back for a 2-1 win. The performance earned him his second World Series MVP award, making him the first player to win the award twice. He quit after six years, just prior to the start of the 1973 season. Koufax later said, "I had nothing at all." Do you have a blog? By the end of the year, after going 813, Koufax was thinking about quitting baseball to devote himself to an electronics business in which he had invested. 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 . He was the greatest pitcher of his time in baseball, said writer Jimmy Cannon. Less than six weeks after the series, on Friday, November 18,[96][97] Koufax announced his retirement due to an arthritic elbow. Catcher Norm Sherry advised him to throw slightly less hard in order to improve his control. The six-time All-Star would go on to win two more Cy Young Awards in 1965 and 1966, finishing second in MVP voting and leading the league in wins both seasons. Koufax ended up getting $125,000 and Drysdale $110,000 (equivalent to $0.92million in 2021). Despite displaying tantalizing abilityhe struck out 14 batters in his second major league startthe left-hander was too wild to remain a regular in the rotation. Sandy Koufax is the youngest ever player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. We strive for accuracy and fairness. 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. 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. Despite the constant pain in his pitching elbow, he pitched a major league-leading 335+23 innings and led the Dodgers to another pennant. [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. Baltimore's 20-year-old future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer pitched a four-hitter, and the Orioles won 60. With the Dodgers out of the pennant race he did not pitch again, ending the season with a 195 record[73] and leading the NL with a 1.74 ERA. Sandy Koufax Many consider Sandy Koufax (born 1945) to be one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time. first pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame (1972) who had more strikeouts than innings pitched . Instead, Koufax made a living on a baseball diamond, becoming one of the most dominating left-handers of all time. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Sandy Koufax, byname of Sanford Koufax, original name Sanford Braun, (born Dec. 30, 1935, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.), American professional baseball player who, despite his early retirement due to arthritis, was ranked among the sport's greatest pitchers. The Dodgers won the 1955 World Series for the first title in franchise history, but Koufax did not appear in the series. He had a 0.95 ERA in four career World Series as the Dodgers won titles in 1959, 1963 and 1965. [79][114] The Dodgers again hired Koufax in 2013 as a special advisor to team chairman Mark Walter to work with the pitchers during spring training and consult during the season. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. 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. Instead, Koufax made a living on a baseball diamond, becoming one of the most dominating left-handers of all time. Few individuals knew it at the time, but on Oct. 6, 1966, Sandy Koufax started the final game of his career. He is an actor, known for 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Shotgun Slade (1959) and Michael Shayne (1960). Koufax pitched two perfect relief innings in the Series opener, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 110. [2][66][84], Before the 1966 season began, Koufax and Drysdale met separately with general manager Buzzie Bavasi to negotiate their contracts for the upcoming year. October 2, 1966 He was just 30 years old. Koufax had an older stepsister, Edith, who died in November 1997. [107] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. We lost them for him. Why Sandy Koufax is an important figure in baseball history. 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. [25] Koufax planned to use the money as tuition to finish his university education, if his baseball career failed. Sandy Koufax sport was basketball. In a Reserve Price Auction, the seller has set a Reserve Price, which is a price below which the listing . His no-hitter, along with a 42 record, 73 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA, earned him the Player of the Month Award for June. Koufax won . As head football coach at Pennsylvania State University, Joe Paterno was one of the most successful coaches in the history of collegiate football. 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. [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. Facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Koufax struck out 13 while pitching his first complete game in almost two years. [81] Both pitchers had no-hitters intact until the seventh inning. [103], "I knew every pitch he was going to throw and still I couldn't hit him. In 12 Major [10] Shortly after his mother's remarriage, the family moved to the Long Island suburb of Rockville Centre. [69][70], Koufax's 1964 season started with great expectations. But after the long layoff, Koufax was ineffective in three appearances as the Giants caught the Dodgers at the end of the regular season, forcing a three-game playoff. [101], Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, an especially impressive feat because it was during the era when only one was given out for both major leagues. Koufax declined the offer. During welcome remarks in a reminiscence of Koufax's decision not to play on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, President Barack Obama said that the two had "something in common." 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 Alston gave him the start in Game 5, at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 92,706 fans. [6] Drysdale pitched the opener, but was hit hard by the Minnesota Twins. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. For Sandy Koufax, his faith came before his career. He walked Ed Bailey on a 3-and-2 pitch in the eighth, and pinch-hitter McCovey on four pitches in the ninth, before closing out the game. He was a seven-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion. 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. When throwing a fastball with baserunners, his hand position in the stretch would be higher than when he threw a curveball. The problem is to figure out why he was Sandy Koufax the stuff of myth, the Achilles of Dodger Stadium, the pitcher who from 1963 to 1966 redefined baseball, the Jewish Phenomenon, the most . [132], Koufax with the Los Angeles Dodgers, c. 1965, Baseball Anecdotes by Daniel Okrent and Steve Wulf, Harper and Row Publishers, 1989, The play-by-play data from which these averages were calculated are only available starting in 1957. Koufax had to call it a career after the 1966 season as a result of worsening arthritis in his throwing arm. 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. 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. The Dodgers went on to face the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, and Game 2 marked Koufax's third start in eight days.