sandy koufax

On November 18, 1966, Sandy Koufax, the ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, retires from baseball. 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. Every single product on this site has been approved and licensed by Sandy Koufax. When Koufax first came on the ballot in 1972, he cruised past the 75% threshold, netting 86.9% of the vote. WebSandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. WebHall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . 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. After making adjustments prior to the 1961 season to improve his control and getting more regular playing time, Koufax quickly rose to become the most dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball before arthritis in his left elbow ended his career prematurely at age 30.[1]. [53] On April 24, he tied his own record with 18 strikeouts in a 10-2 road win over the Cubs. 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. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. 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. In the latter two of those series, Koufax was named the World Series MVP, making him one of three multiple-time winners, along with fellow Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson. Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . WebSandy Koufax. [34], The year 1956 was not very different from 1955 for Koufax. He established one record after another as he went through an 11-year career as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935. Award by a unanimous vote . Whats amazing about Koufax is that he played for one team the Dodgers but he had two entirely different careers. Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Evelyn and Jack Braun. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. After setting a modern NL record in 1961 with 269 strikeouts, in 1963 he became the first pitcher in 17 years and the first left-hander since 1904 to strike out 300 batters. Koufax was the MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1963 and also won Cy Young Awards in 1965 and '66 . Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. 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, Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. Sabermetrician Rob Neyer called it the best curve of all time. Born on Dec. 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Koufax impressed a scout who saw him throw for his college baseball team. In 12 Major WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. In April 1966, Kerlan told Koufax it was time to retire and that his arm could not take another season. [122], In 1990 Koufax was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. 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, 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. [55] On April 22, however, "he felt something let go in his arm," resulting in three cortisone shots for a sore elbow and three missed starts. With the Series tied at 22, Koufax pitched a complete-game shutout in Game 5 for a 32 Dodgers lead as the Series returned to Metropolitan Stadium for Game 6, which the Twins won to force a seventh game. [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. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 10:13. [129] Regardless, his decision to not pitch on Yom Kippur in 1965 was highly significant for Jewish-Americans. Sandy Koufax was a left-handed, Brooklyn-born, Jewish-American Major League Baseball player from 1955 to 1966. [113] His third wife is Jane Dee Purucker Clarke, a college sorority sister of First Lady Laura Bush. consecutive All-Star Games from 1961-66 . Postseason included, Koufax made 88 career starts at Dodger Stadium and allowed more than three earned runs in just four of them (4.5%). Hello, Hall: Inducted at 36Koufaxs peak was so impressive that even though he hung up his spikes at age 30, there was no doubt that he was Hall of Fame-worthy. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. He also took Butazolidin for inflammation, applied capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment (also sold by the brand name "Atomic Balm") before each game, and soaked his arm in a tub of ice afterwards. His parents were Evelyn (ne Lichtenstein) and Jack Braun, Sephardic Jews of Hungarian descent.6The family lived in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. [106] His four-seam fastball gave batters the impression of rising as it approached them, due to backspin. He started out as a left-handed catcher before moving to first base. 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. With his third no-hitter in three years Koufax tied Feller as the only modern-era pitchers to hurl three no-hitters.[73]. The lefty joins Cy Young himself as the only hurlers to include a perfect game among a group of at least three no-nos. [52], 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. He was the strikeouts "When he (Koufax) first came up, he couldn't throw a ball inside the batting cage," said Hall of Fame teammate Duke Snider. and to strike out more than nine batters (9 .28) per nine innings . That total of 382 in 1965 set a modern single-season record, since surpassed only by Ryan (383 in 73). Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. You can always find weird numerology with sports and celebrities if you look hard enough. 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. He is an actor, known for 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Shotgun Slade (1959) and Michael Shayne (1960). "[110][111], 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. They rejoined the team in the last week of spring training. He established one record after another as he went through an 11-year career as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Memberships. [83], Koufax declined to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series in order to observe the Jewish religious holiday of Yom Kippur. 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). in Brooklyn, NY [35] He saw little work, pitching only 58+23 innings with a 4.91 ERA, 29 walks and 30 strikeouts. He was named the World Series MVP in both 1963 and 1965, earning two wins in each Series and striking out 52 batters to lead the team to another pair of titles. [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. Catcher Norm Sherry advised him to throw slightly less hard in order to improve his control. [56], Koufax had a strong season despite an injured pitching hand. A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. 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. Sandy Koufax was born as Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935. He was knocked out in the second inning, after giving up home runs to future Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Jim Davenport. 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. The 1965 season brought more obstacles for Koufax. League seasons, he had a career record of 165-87, a 2 .76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 40 Despite his slow start, Koufaxs 2.76 career ERA ranks fourth in the Live Ball Era among those with at least 2,000 innings. 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. Most of his velocity came from his strong legs and back, combined with a high leg kick during his wind-up and long forward extension on his release point toward home plate. I decided I was really going to find out how good I can be. He started playing basketball for the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst local community center team. 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, 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. 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 was a left-handed, Brooklyn-born, Jewish-American Major League Baseball player from 1955 to 1966. [11] Shortly after his mother's remarriage, the family moved to the Long Island suburb of Rockville Centre. Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley both passed away on Aug. 16. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. 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. He is an actor, known for 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Shotgun Slade (1959) and Michael Shayne (1960). Ruttman, "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman". He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He has since worked for the Dodgers organization in a variety of capacities. 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. He was the youngest player ever elected, five months younger than Lou Gehrig upon his special election in December 1939 (which waived what was then a one-year waiting period before enshrinement). Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first time anyone had won the belt more than once. 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. Born: 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). WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. Koufax had 11-game winning streaks in both 1964 and 1965. history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more We will offer fans the opportunity to buy signed and unsigned items. Despite winning three of his next five with a 2.90 ERA, Koufax did not get another start for 45 days. Koufax won the NL MVP Award and the Hickok Belt, and was the first-ever unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award. He suited up for the last time before his 31st birthday. He posted an 1813 record and led the league with 269 strikeouts, breaking Christy Mathewson's 58-year-old NL mark of 267. https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. 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. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. Throughout his career, Koufax relied heavily on two pitches. Teammate Joe Pignatano said that 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. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [108] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. The game was not televised. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. At 86, Koufax remains an icon for ages. [11] He later earned a partial scholarship. Koufax's role includes attending a [104], "I knew every pitch he was going to throw and still I couldn't hit him. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. During that time, he made the All-Star team every year and led the National League in the following categories: innings (twice), complete games (twice), shutouts (three times), wins (three times), ERA (five times), ERA+ (twice), FIP (six times), WHIP (four times), strikeouts (four times), K-rate (five times), hits-per-nine-innings (five times), K-to-BB ratio (three times) and pitching WAR (twice). [72], On June 4, playing at Connie Mack Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies, Koufax walked Richie Allen on a very close full-count pitch in the fourth inning. In 1963, Koufax led the league in wins with 25, in ERA with 1.88, in shutouts with 11 and strikeouts with 306. 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). Free shipping for many products! Branch Rickey, then the general manager of the Pirates, told his scout Clyde Sukeforth that Koufax had the "greatest arm [he had] ever seen". [45], Koufax tried one more year of baseball, showing up for the 1961 season in better condition than he ever had before. He was just 30 years old, and he was retiring after a 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. What I don't understand is how he lost five,"[68] to which Dodger shortstop Maury Wills responded, "He didn't. 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. [124][125], Before the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati, Koufax was introduced as one of the four best living players (as selected by fans), along with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Johnny Bench. He and Oscar Robertson are neck-and-neck in the debate over the greatest UC athlete of all time. He was previously married to Kimberly Francis and Anne Heath Widmark. Eddie Mathews bunted, and Koufax threw the ball into center field. 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. 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. On November 18, 1966, Sandy Koufax, the ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, retires from baseball. shutouts . Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Evelyn and Jack Braun. He was the first pitcher to average fewer than seven hits allowed per nine innings pitched (6.79) and to strike out more than nine batters (9.28) per nine innings pitched. 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. More than once heavily on two pitches to receive our daily Morning Lineup stay. 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