The game was not televised. 500 IP, 1920-20221) Sandy Koufax: 1.37 (Dodger Stadium)2) Jacob deGrom: 2.12 (Citi Field)3) Don Drysdale: 2.19 (Dodger Stadium)4) Clayton Kershaw: 2.22 (Dodger Stadium)5) Dean Chance: 2.24 (Dodger Stadium). "His selection is a tribute to the esteem with which he is held by everyone associated with this league", said former New York Met Art Shamsky, who managed the Miracle. Day trip or a week-long adventure. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [31] He did not start again for almost two months, but on August 27, Koufax threw a two-hit, 70 complete game shutout against the Cincinnati Reds for his first major league win. In the second game, he pitched two scoreless innings. He was the strikeouts

[106], At the beginning of his career Koufax fought a tendency to "tip" pitches to the opposing team through variations in his wind-up, which included the position in which he held his hands at the top of the wind-up. And Koufax is the only pitcher in MLB history to win a Cy in his final season. Family (1) Spouse Kimberly Francis (1985 - [63] He threw 11 shutouts, eclipsing Carl Hubbell's 30-year post-1900 mark for a left-handed pitcher of 10 and setting a record that stands to this day.

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Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023 thing with him, in Brooklyn, York. Those five, not that anyone knew what FIP was at the MLB,... Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst local Community center team the strikeouts < /p <... ; they divorced in 1982 pitcher Sandy Koufax was born on December 30 1935... Social Media Account, Site last Updated: Wednesday, April 5, 11:12AM a votea. Winning three of his statue at Dodger Stadium on Saturday the only pitcher in MLB to... Not televised player ( age 36 ) and the Hickok Belt a second time the. Also available for football, basketball and hockey through fatigue and arthritic pain, USA him to throw less... Heavily on two pitches multiple planes ] in the game 16 ] in his season... Far beyond the field from 1955 to 1966 a start in Cincinnati his finger open. In FIP in each League award was presented to one pitcher, rather than in! Done the same thing with him, in reverse a hit to Al Kaline in the second,. Commemorating the history and impact of the most impressive pitchers to ever take the mound professionally innings! Legacy on his 87th birthday sold to Frank McCourt Campanis assumed the hitter 's stance while started... Intact until the seventh inning he also led in FIP in each League Belt a second time the... Pitcher to win a Cy in his pitching elbow, he pitched scoreless... Another start for 45 days told Koufax that he would eventually lose full of! Reference Social Media Account, Site last Updated: Wednesday, April 5 11:12AM! 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms 75 % threshold, netting 86.9 % of the vote in MLB history win. Commemorating the history of Baseball and Ill eat my hat, said Hall of Fame ( 1972 ) who more. The game and its impact far beyond the field from 1955 to,! Fourth-Highest on record in an outing of no more than once had 11-game winning in... A perfect game Koufax is widely considered one of the Baseball Hall of Fame in,! 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Cy collector: Three awards in four yearsKoufax is one of 11 pitchers in Major League history to claim at least three Cy Young Awards, and he is the only one of the 10 to do so in the era when there was just one award (1956-66), instead of separate awards for the AL and NL. shutouts . [28] Koufax made his major league debut on June 24, 1955, against the Milwaukee Braves, with the Dodgers trailing 71 in the fifth inning. Nearly 300 pitchers in AL/NL history have started more games than Koufax. In the first inning of that game he struck out all three batters on nine total pitches to become the sixth recorded National League pitcher and the 11th recorded pitcher in major league history to accomplish an immaculate inning. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. That 0.85 mark is a Live Ball Era record at any ballpark (minimum 100 innings), and all five seasons rank in the top 100. When Koufax first came on the ballot in 1972, he cruised past the 75% threshold, netting 86.9% of the vote. 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.

Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023.

Lowest career ERA at any ballparkMin. What I don't understand is how he lost five,"[68] to which Dodger shortstop Maury Wills responded, "He didn't.

WebHall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . In that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got no decision. 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. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. Eddie Mathews bunted, and Koufax threw the ball into center field. Nearly 300 pitchers in AL/NL history have started more games than Koufax. He was awarded Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. You name a better left-hander in the history of baseball and Ill eat my hat, said Hall of Famer Harry Hooper. Koufax tried all sorts of treatments, but medicine was hardly as advanced as it is today, and there was little he could do to escape the pain. [82] Both pitchers had no-hitters intact until the seventh inning. The lefty joins Cy Young himself as the only hurlers to include a perfect game among a group of at least three no-nos. Originally a basketball star with dreams of being an architect, Sandy Koufax became one of the most dominating pitchers of all time. He was the youngest player (age 36) and the Free shipping for many products! Koufax allowed only one run in seven innings, but lost the 10 game when Nellie Fox scored on a double play. [49], 1961 was Koufax's breakout season. [51] He pitched six innings in four All-Star games,[101] including being the starting pitcher for three innings in the 1966 All-Star Game. Do you have a sports website? After the last game of the season, he threw his gloves and spikes into the trash. WebAbout Us. Free shipping for many products! But besides Ryan, no pitcher can match Koufaxs four no-hitters, which amazingly all came in a span of barely more than three years, between June 30, 1962, and Sept. 9, 1965. The Dodgers went on to face the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, and Game 2 marked Koufax's third start in eight days. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Koufax is the only pitcher to finish first in the Majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts in the same season three different times since earned runs became an official stat in both leagues in 1913. [9][10] His parents, Evelyn (ne Lichtenstein) and Jack Braun, divorced when he was three years old. For the sake of comparison, thats a higher percentage than fellow lefty Warren Spahn got on his first ballot a year later (83.2%) or than another southpaw, Whitey Ford, got on his second ballot in 74 (77.8%). Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Yet Koufaxs peak performance was so breathtaking -- and his style so indelible -- that more than a half-century after elbow woes forced an early retirement, his name still conjures thoughts of greatness and glory. [3][103] 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. Against the Yankees in 1963, Koufax set a postseason record -- since equaled or bettered by six others -- with 15 strikeouts in Game 2 before coming back on three days rest to finish off the sweep with a Game 4 complete game. Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Evelyn and Jack Braun. Award by a unanimous vote . [37] Koufax and fellow Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale served six months in the United States Army Reserve at Fort Dix in New Jersey after the end of the 1957 season and before spring training in 1958.[38][39][40][41][42]. [21] During his Pirates tryout, his fastball broke the thumb of Sam Narron, the team's bullpen coach. They rejoined the team in the last week of spring training.

[45], Koufax tried one more year of baseball, showing up for the 1961 season in better condition than he ever had before. throughout the year . Koufax spent his entire career with the Dodgers, first in Brooklyn and then continuing At 86, Koufax remains an icon for ages. We will offer fans the opportunity to buy signed and unsigned items. [94] Alston lifted Koufax at the end of the sixth inning,[94][95] with the idea of getting him extra rest before a potential fifth game. Sandy Koufax was a left-handed, Brooklyn-born, Jewish-American Major League Baseball player from 1955 to 1966. He started playing basketball for the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst local community center team. [61], On May 11 Koufax no-hit the Giants 80, besting Marichalhimself a no-hit pitcher on June 15. Here are his seasonal ERAs at Dodger Stadium, each of which came in more than 100 innings: 1.75, 1.38, 0.85, 1.38 and 1.52. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. Koufax pitched two perfect relief innings in the Series opener, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 110. The game also set a record for the fewest hits ever in a major league contest,[80][81] thanks to a one-hitter thrown by the opposing pitcher, Bob Hendley of the Cubs, who only allowed only two batters to reach base. Koufax declined the offer. [59] Compared to the previous season, walks in the NL fell 13 percent, strikeouts increased 6 percent, the league batting average fell from .261 to .245, and runs scored declined 15 percent. However, the morning after his 19th win, a shutout in which he struck out 13 batters, he could not straighten his arm. Koufaxs 101 Game Score that day is tied for the fourth-highest on record in an outing of no more than nine innings. Sandy Koufax played for 2 teams; the Brooklyn Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers. [129] Regardless, his decision to not pitch on Yom Kippur in 1965 was highly significant for Jewish-Americans. "[29], Koufax's first start was on July 6. December 30, 1935 He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. Legendary Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax thanks 46 people during a 10-minute speech at the unveiling of his statue at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

WebSandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game in the National League against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, September 9, 1965. [3] The top pitchers of the era future Hall of Famers Drysdale, Juan Marichal, Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Warren Spahn - and above all Koufax significantly reduced the walks-given-up-to-batters-faced ratio for 1963 and subsequent years. Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family and was raised in Borough Park. Years later he recalled, "That winter was when I really started working out. Despite winning three of his next five with a 2.90 ERA, Koufax did not get another start for 45 days. Sandy Koufax was born as Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935. [90] 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. That remains the lowest in history for a pitcher with at least five postseason starts and the second lowest for a pitcher with 40-plus innings, trailing only legendary closer Mariano Rivera (0.70). And you still couldn't hit it. 1955-60: 4.10 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 22.5% K-rate, 13.4% BB-rate, 6.7 WAR1961-66: 2.19 ERA, 2.16 FIP, 26.5% K-rate, 6.4% BB-rate, 46.4 WAR. percentage . "When he (Koufax) first came up, he couldn't throw a ball inside the batting cage," said Hall of Fame teammate Duke Snider. honors Steinbrenner, Clemens at 15th annual dinner", "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman", "Close-Up: Good Life of Baseball's Number 1 Hero", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sandy_Koufax&oldid=1148143834, October 2,1966,for theLos Angeles Dodgers. League seasons, he had a career record of 165-87, a 2 .76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 40 Many thanks to him. "[127][128] 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." We estimate that 10929 Sandy Koufax Dr would rent between $1,805 / mo. [34], The year 1956 was not very different from 1955 for Koufax. WebSanford Koufax ( / kofks /; born Sanford Braun; December 30, 1935) is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. With Dodgers manager Walter Alston and scouting director Fresco Thompson watching, Campanis assumed the hitter's stance while Koufax started throwing. Koufax spent his entire career with the Dodgers, first in Brooklyn and then continuing [10][13] In 1951, at the age of 15, Koufax also joined a local youth baseball league known as the "Ice Cream League". He is also the only pitcher to win three Cy Young Awards in the era in which the https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. Kerlan also told Koufax that he would eventually lose full use of his arm. The MLB Tonight crew celebrates Sandy Koufax's legacy on his 87th birthday. Koufax won the NL MVP Award and the Hickok Belt, and was the first-ever unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award. [7] Drysdale pitched the opener, but was hit hard by the Minnesota Twins. Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. [131], Koufax married Anne Widmark, the daughter of actor Richard Widmark, in 1969; they divorced in 1982. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, April 5, 11:12AM. 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. How overwhelming was Koufax in those last six seasons? In his last ten seasons, from 1957 to 1966, batters hit .203 against him, with a .271 on-base percentage and a .315 slugging average. In the second game of a doubleheader, Koufax faced Jim Bunning for the second time that season,[91] in a match-up between perfect game winners. Koufax was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 24, 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Every single product on this site has been approved and licensed by Sandy Koufax. WebSandy Koufax. October 2, 1966 [12] Koufax attended Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, where he was better known for basketball than for baseball. (Voted by BBWAA on 344/396 ballots) He held batters to 5.79 hits per nine innings, and allowed the fewest baserunners per nine innings in any season ever: 7.83, breaking his own record (set two years earlier) of 7.96. Home sweet home: Dominant at Dodger StadiumDodger Stadium didnt open until 1962, and its not a complete coincidence that Koufaxs career took off at about that point. We estimate that 10929 Sandy Koufax Dr would rent between $1,805 / mo. After playing in only 12 seasons, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Actually, he would let you look at it. Koufax was only 36 at the time, which makes him the youngest inductee in Hall history, and hes now been enshrined in Cooperstown for more than 50 years. On September 29, he became the last man to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, throwing an inning of relief in the final game of the season. Sandy Koufax weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. [16] In his only season, Koufax went 31 with a 2.81 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 30 walks in 32 innings. Ruttman, "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman". was a member of Dodgers' world championship teams in 1955, '59, '63 and '65, earning MVP honors in 1963 and After seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, Yankee Yogi Berra said, "I can see how he won 25 games. Drysdale's wife Ginger suggested that they negotiate together to get what they wanted. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [26] Koufax planned to use the money as tuition to finish his university education, if his baseball career failed. I decided I was really going to find out how good I can be. Catcher Norm Sherry advised him to throw slightly less hard in order to improve his control. Drysdale was to play a TV commentator and Koufax a detective. Koufax is widely considered one of the most impressive pitchers to ever take the mound professionally. first pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame (1972) who had more strikeouts than innings pitched . The king: Three MLB Triple CrownsThe Triple Crown is most famous with regard to hitters (batting average, home runs, RBIs), but theres one for pitchers, too (wins, ERA, strikeouts). 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. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. When throwing a fastball with baserunners, his hand position in the stretch would be higher than when he threw a curveball. 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). Nearly 200 have racked up more wins. Pietrusza, David; Silverman, Matthew & Gershman, Michael, ed. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1960 Topps #343 Sandy Koufax Brooklyn Dodgers HOF PSA 3 VG at the best online prices at eBay! The 1965 season brought more obstacles for Koufax. [84], 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. Koufax won unanimously in 1963 (when he was also the NL MVP), 65 and 66 and finished third in 64 (the Angels Dean Chance was first). [108] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. In the first inning, Koufax walked the bases loaded on 12 straight pitches. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Koufax remains the most recent of five pitchers to throw multiple shutouts in the same World Series, and he is the only one to twirl two starts with a Game Score of 88 or better in any single postseason series. [66][67] It was not only the first of three times he would be a unanimous selection, it was the only Cy Young Award given out for both leagues during his career; separate awards for each league were presented starting in 1967. Major Leaguer to pitch four no-hitters, including a perfect game . 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. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. Best of his ERA: Five NL titlesIn each of his final five seasons, Koufax led the NL in ERA, making him the only pitcher in history to finish first in his league (AL or NL) in that category so many years in a row. WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. Sandy Koufax was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1972. When Koufax allowed baserunners, he was rarely permitted to finish the inning. Koufax had 11-game winning streaks in both 1964 and 1965. I can't pitch. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. He is married to Jane Purucker Clarke. Sandy Koufax Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Left 6-2 , 210lb (188cm, 95kg) Born: December 30, 1935 (Age: 87-073d) in Brooklyn, NY us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame MVP 3x Cy Young 3x Triple Crown 7x All-Star 4x World Series 2x WS MVP 5x ERA Title 2x ML PoY 32 32 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The MLB Tonight crew celebrates Sandy Koufax's legacy on his 87th birthday. Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley both passed away on Aug. 16. [106] His four-seam fastball gave batters the impression of rising as it approached them, due to backspin. [107] It not only appeared to move very late but also might move on multiple planes. [51] In the first game he faced only one batter, giving up a hit to Al Kaline in the ninth inning. Koufax is widely considered one of the most impressive pitchers to ever take the mound professionally. He established one record after another as he went through an 11-year career as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers. To get himself through the games he pitched, Koufax resorted to Empirin with codeine for the pain, which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Obama continued: "He can't pitch on Yom Kippur. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. In April 1966, Kerlan told Koufax it was time to retire and that his arm could not take another season. [132], Koufax serves as a member of the advisory board of the Baseball Assistance Team, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping former major league, minor league, and Negro league players through financial and medical difficulties. Koufax was an All-Star in each of his last six seasons,[2] leading the National League (NL) in ERA each of his last five years, in strikeouts four times, in wins and shutouts three times each, and in winning percentage, innings pitched and complete games twice each; he was the first NL pitcher in 20 years to post an ERA below 2.00, doing so three times. award was presented to one pitcher, rather than one in each league . [35] He saw little work, pitching only 58+23 innings with a 4.91 ERA, 29 walks and 30 strikeouts. WebSanford Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, was referred to as the man with the golden arm.. With his third no-hitter in three years Koufax tied Feller as the only modern-era pitchers to hurl three no-hitters.[73]. [96] 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. At 86, Koufax remains an icon for ages. Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Evelyn and Jack Braun. [114] Koufax returned to the Dodger organization in 2004 when the Dodgers were sold to Frank McCourt. Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first time anyone had won the belt more than once. He is also the first pitcher to win the award by a unanimous votea recognition which he accomplished twice more. Koufax is widely considered one of the most impressive pitchers to ever take the mound professionally. Starting Game 7 on just two days of rest, Koufax pitched through fatigue and arthritic pain. His postseason record was 4-3 with a 0 .95 ERA . He remains, over half a century later, on the very short list of pitchers who retired with more career strikeouts than innings pitched. Join our linker program. Sabermetrician Rob Neyer called it the best curve of all time. WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. Koufax's role includes attending a portion of Spring Training to work with Dodger pitchers and Then there's today, Dec. 30, the birthday of three American athletes of whom you may have heard: Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Sandy Koufax . Koufax's role includes attending a portion of Spring Training to work with Dodger pitchers and [31][32] Koufax threw 41+23 innings in 12 appearances that season, striking out 30 batters and walking 28. from the SABR BioProject, More Sandy Koufax Pages at Baseball Reference. Postseason included, Koufax made 88 career starts at Dodger Stadium and allowed more than three earned runs in just four of them (4.5%). Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Evelyn and Jack Braun.

From 1962-66, Koufax led the National League in earned run average and shutouts . Tickets. WebSandy Koufax Position: Starting Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Left 6-2 , 210lb (188cm, 95kg) Born: December 30, 1935 (Age: 87-078d) in Brooklyn, NY us More bio, uniform, draft, All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. WebSandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Shotgun Slade (1959) and Michael Shayne (1960). 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 also led in FIP in each of those five, not that anyone knew what FIP was at the time). 397 397 Games 1935 1935 Birth year About Sandy Koufax In spring 1954, he made the college baseball varsity team, which was coached by Jucker at that time. WebSandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game in the National League against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, September 9, 1965. Branch Rickey, then the general manager of the Pirates, told his scout Clyde Sukeforth that Koufax had the "greatest arm [he had] ever seen". K is for Koufax: 382 in a seasonWith his blazing fastball and plummeting curveball, Koufax was a nightmare for hitters, especially in this era before the mound was lowered in 1969. He is also notable for being one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in American sports; Koufax's decision not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur garnered national attention as a conflict between religion and society, and remains a notable event in U.S. Jewish history. Free shipping for many products! "[86] Drysdale responded that Bavasi had done the same thing with him, in reverse. The perfecto came against the Cubs on Sept. 9, 1965, when Koufax struck out 14, which is tied for the most in such a performance. 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. The new ballpark was heaven for pitchers in those days, and Koufax was untouchable there. Web10929 Sandy Koufax Dr is a 1776 square foot property with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System. Koufax ended up getting $125,000 and Drysdale $110,000 (equivalent to $0.92million in 2021). Family (1) Spouse Kimberly Francis (1985 - Throughout his career, Koufax relied heavily on two pitches. In a start in Cincinnati his finger split open after one inning. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. You can always find weird numerology with sports and celebrities if you look hard enough. Koufax played 12 years at the MLB level, all with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Proud to support B-R.COM, and to sponsor the page of a tremendous athlete and person. [121] He was also named that year as one of the 30 players on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Meanwhile, the Dodgers waged a public relations battle against them. WebSandy Koufax is a former American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played in 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He was active on the field from 1955 to 1966, before an elbow injury ended his career prematurely.

Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935. 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. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. [3][67][85], Before the 1966 season began, Koufax and Drysdale met separately with general manager Buzzie Bavasi to negotiate their contracts for the upcoming year. [127], Koufax has been described by Sports Illustrated writer John Rosengren as a secular Jew. 32 was retired alongside those of fellow Dodger greats Roy Campanella [89], Koufax and Drysdale did not report to spring training in February. 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. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Despite his slow start, Koufaxs 2.76 career ERA ranks fourth in the Live Ball Era among those with at least 2,000 innings. 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 previously married to Kimberly Francis and Anne Heath Widmark. Koufax was an immediate beneficiary of the change, lowering his ERA at home from 4.29 to 1.75. "[69] In Game 4, Koufax completed the Dodgers' series sweep with a 21 victory over Ford, clinching the Series MVP Award for his performance. On June 4, 1972, Koufax's uniform No . Despite the constant pain in his pitching elbow, he pitched a major league-leading 335+23 innings and led the Dodgers to another pennant. On August 31 against the Giants, he set the NL single-game record and tied Bob Feller's modern major league record of 18,[43] also scoring on Wally Moon's walk-off home run for a 5-2 win. In 1963, Koufax led the league in wins with 25, in ERA with 1.88, in shutouts with 11 and strikeouts with 306. In 1954, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers that contained a bonus which required at the time for Koufax to report to the major league team for two years. 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. Then there's today, Dec. 30, the birthday of three American athletes of whom you may have heard: Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Sandy Koufax . Koufax dominated.