And that's as far as it went. Sandy Koufax after pitching his 4th career no-hitter, also a perfect game, Sept 9th, 1965. Rookie Status: Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. in Brooklyn, NY Indeed, Koufax's overall record, beginning with the 1962 season and running through 1965, was 84-25, three of the losses coming at the hands of Hendley (Curt Simmons beat Koufax three times as well). Sandy Koufax was born Sanford Braun in December 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, the child of Evelyn and Jack Braun, who divorced when Sandy was three. Dusty Baker on the unsettling rash of baseball injuries: "First Ken Griffey, then Matt Williams, the two guys who were going after Roger Maris last year. He was a good- size kid,standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing about 200-pounds. In the American League, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox won the hitting Triple Crown twice, in 1942 and 1947; Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees did it in 1956; To be the one best player in all three categories in a single season, whether hit- ter or pitcher, is a rare and distinctive honor, marking accomplished play.Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles in 1966; and Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox was the last hitter to do so in 1967. . Merely Koufax vs. Whitey Ford. won't be missed at all. In the top of the second, the Dodgers scored four runs, including a three-run home run by Roseboro. Use of his left arm was severely limited when he wasnt pitching. Koufax finished with just four strikeouts. 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. But the Dodgers swept the three games from the Cardinals to move four games ahead with nine to play; a 41 win over the Mets clinched the pennant in the season's 158th game. After playing in only 12 seasons, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Joe Jares, Sandy Makes A Pitch For Posterity, Sports Illustrated, August 2, 1965. It became the gold standard the instant Koufax struck out Harvey Kuenn for the the 27th out. What I dont understand is how he lost five.. He needed Click for copy. The connection between Koufax and the other gentleman, the pitcher who made that game perfection-plus, is long distance and infrequent. That's how close they came to a double no-hitter evening. He struck out double digits Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. When Stan Musial struck out looking and Ken Boyer flied out to left, it appeared Koufax had found his groove, but he walked Bill White, loading the bases. Do you have a sports website? WebHow fast did Sandy Koufax throw? In 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And he remains as splendid a human being as any who has graced the planet -- courteous, caring, generous and unassuming. On October 6th, 1963, in Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, Koufax faced the Yankees a second time. And I knew every pitch he was going to throw fastball, breaking ball or whatever. The Dodgers upped the lead to 5-0 when Skowron singled home Willie Davis with two outs in the third inning against Ford, who went just five innings. In a 12-year big-league career, Koufax yielded 204 home runs, including six grand slams. View Sandy Koufax's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). "He actually sent me a card," Hendley said. Though, Leavy reported, the hand injury had bothered Koufax since April (by July, the tissue was close to gangrene, she wrote), he entered the September start against St. Louis with a 14-5 record and 2.15 ERA. Mays' home run came on Spahn's 201st pitch. But Koufax shut down the Yanks after that as the Dodgers won 2-1, completing a surprising four-game sweep of New York to win the Series. It sounded just like a twig snapping, Gibson told The Sporting News. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. By May 11th, 1963, Koufax was is very good form. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I was merely trying to meet the ball and was astonished to see it land on the roof in right field, James said. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. Dan Hafner, Koufax Lost to Dodgers for Two Weeks, Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1962, p. B-1. Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. Big D, Koufax Losing Support, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1966, p. B-2. Sandy Koufaxs Perfect Game, Wikipedia.org. "We both gave up two runs, we both allowed five hits. He struck out his final six batters and eight of the final 10. The Yankees' four runs in the series was, at the time, the second-lowest total in a World Series, as the Philadelphia Athletics had scored only three runs in 1905. His 2,396 career strikeouts at retirement in 1966 ranked 7th best all-time. BY PETER MOORE 2023-05-01T07:00:00.0000000Z December 30, 1935 ". Catcher Elston Howard (.287 BA, 28 HRs, 85 RBI) won the MVP Award, while Joe Pepitone, Roger Maris, and Tom Tresh also topped the 20 home run mark. L.A. rightfully claimed him as its own. A baseball day doesn't get a whole lot better than this one: a Hall of Famer who is included on any serious list of the top 10 pitchers of all time; an iconic announcer who tops almost every list of illustrious play-by-play men and, arguably, the best-pitched game -- both sides considered -- in the long history of the big leagues. Koufax also won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Award for best pitcher by unanimous votes during an erawhen only one pitcher was chosen per season. The Dodgers signed Koufax for a total salary and bonus package of $20,000 or roughly $170,000 in todays money. You could tell how much he wanted it. . Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Wearing new spikes, Gibson participated in batting practice. Full Site Menu. Thus began, in June of 1955,theprofessional baseball career of Sandy Koufax with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But the Yankees came to Dodger Stadium for the third and fourth games of the 1963 World Series, what would be the climax of an L.A. sweep. The other memory has been with me since 1982, Billy Martin's downfall season as the A's manager. Koufax and Drysdale Sign Pactsas Movie Actors, Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1966, p. B-1. "He actually sent me a card," Hendley said. Ford set the Dodgers down in order in the first inning, but got into trouble in the second inning. He was the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball. Article Citation: Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. But even the extraordinary Pirates-Braves game of May 26, 1959, paled in comparison with the Koufax-Hendley game. Their pitching was anchored by Whitey Ford (24 wins, 2.74 ERA) and Jim Bouton (21 wins, 2.53 ERA). Only perfection beat him. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. . And what a great lesson that is. Frank Finch, Spencers Hit Ruins Koufax Sparkler, 1-0 , Los Angeles Times, June 2, 1963, p. J-1. ", The loss was readily rationalized by the Cubs pitcher: "If you have to lose a game, he was the guy you were proud to lose to," Hendley said. Hendley never had told his players of his baseball past. Heres one account from Sports Illustrated by Tom Verducci in 1999, describing what Koufax was going through: In the last 26 days of his career Koufax started seven times, threw five complete-game wins and had a 1.07 ERA. We present them here for purely educational purposes. To date, this is the only time the Dodgers have won the deciding game of a World Series at home. Hendley never had told his players of his baseball past. Thank you. He had allowed eight walks combined in his three, earlier no-hitters. . Koufax also set a new standard with 382 strikeouts in 1965. Sandy Koufax in the 1960s no doubt, thinking about a strikeout. Born: The Dodgers' road to the World Series was much more challenging. The big league game has given us 22 other perfectos, 15 since Koufax produced his. amzn_assoc_title = "Related Reading"; Triple Crowns in pitching have been reached more recently in 2006 by Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins in the American League, and in 2007 by Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres of the National League. Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers making a pitch, 1960s. However, during this time, the commissioner of the MLB, Bowie Kuhn, and Aaron began to butt heads. Sports fans around the country were saying how the Dodgers were going to blow it again. But baseball -- more than the other sports -- often is unfair. "And I came out a loser. Koufax left baseball with the highest regard of his fellow players, as he had been a model professional, not one to seek the spotlight or boast of his abilities, and often thinking and acting on behalf of the team rather than himself. Turning away sharply from a pitch, his spikes caught in the ground and he toppled over in pain, The Sporting News reported. Tommy Thompson, Good Life of Baseballs No. Although Mantle was about to turn 32, his tortured body was ancient, and he had played just 65 games that season. WebSandy Koufax Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Left 6-2 , 210lb (188cm, 95kg) Born: December 30, 1935 (Age: 87-112d) in Brooklyn, NY us More bio, uniform, draft, salary If he had got out of that first inning, Dodgers manager Walter Alston said about Koufax, no telling how long he might have gone., Asked whether the left index finger still bothered him, Koufax replied, My finger doesnt feel 100 percent but it does feel as good as it did the two or three games before I went under the doctors care., Two years later, April 22, 1964, James hit another first-inning home run off Koufax, a three-run shot in a 7-6 Cardinals victory. A young Sandy Koufax in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. 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. And seven of the 22, including Koufax's, have been decided by 1-0 scores. And one game for the ages, albeit a loss. Perfect Game. Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn became Hall of Famers, and they already had developed uncommon prestige within the game by July 2, 1963, when their Giants and Braves opposed each other in San Francisco. Call 415- 750-4442 for ticket prices and other information. One of his two sons, Bart, lives nearby, and he enjoys baseball and embraces the advanced metrics that have emerged in the past 15 years. Haddix carried a perfect game into the 13th against a most formidable Braves lineup. In any case, he was put under the spotlight for refusing to pitch in such a high profile game, but was regarded proudly by Jews around the world for his decision. We were like Cubs fans who wouldn't go see the White Sox if you paid us. That's how close they came to a double no-hitter evening. Phone: 602.496.1460 the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. As a kid, Sandy actually played more basketball than baseball, at least at first, beginning at a local Jewish Community Center and then in his senior year for the Lafayette High School basketball team. They had been at Mantle's house nearby, and knowing these two, they probably hoisted their first cocktails before noon. Koufax-Drysdale Spokesman Says Next Move Up to Dodgers, Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1966, p. B-6. Even for a pitcher, Koufax was a weak hitter, batting just . he set records as one of the nicest people ever to play or manage the game, as well. This could be another tale of the astounding exploits of Sandy Koufax, one more of so many; and each one warranted. A crowd of 29,797 was on hand as Koufax took the mound. 3 What was the crowd at Sandy Koufaxs first no hitter? Koufax only missed a perfect game that day by walkingtwo batters: Ed Bailey in the eighth inning, and an intentional walk to Willie McCovey in the ninth. Pitcher Carl Erskine is shown in his Brooklyn uniform. The momentum he created for himself brought out the best in Scully and a powerful sense of resignation for Hendley. Later, another Dodger scout, Al Campanis heard about Koufax from a local sporting goods store owner, and after seeing the kid pitch locally invited him to Ebbets Field to tryout with the Dodgers. You never told us who you were. Click for photo plaque. With the count 2-and-2, Koufax was a strike away from getting out of the jam. Gary Kaufman, Vin Scully, Salon.com, Tuesday, October 12, 1999. The other Sandys -- Amoros, Valdespino, Alomar and Alomar Jr., Leon, Martinez, Alderson, Johnson and Consuegra -- are relegated to identification by surname. By the way, Hendley allowed just one walk. Vin Scully, 29,000 People And A Million Butter-flies, Vin Scullys radio call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufaxs 1965 perfect game, Salon.com., Tuesday, October 12, 1999. Hendley, pitching for the Cubs that night in Los Angeles, warrants none of the superlatives applied above. WebThe youngest man ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sandy Koufax, was no different. On bad days hed have to bend his neck to get his face closer to his left hand so that he could shave. In fact, things are going so right for Koufax that last Saturday in Milwaukee, one of the rare occasions when he did not pitch well, he hit a three-run homer to prevent defeat. Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax (cover story). But for Sandy Koufax, the mid-1960s were the awesome years. According to base-stealing threat Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals, Koufax couldnt field bunts well or hold runners on base too well. He then scored a moment later on Willie Davis' sacrifice fly. Since Koufax won his last of three Triple Crowns in 1966, there have only been four other National League pitchers who have won Triple Crowns Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972; Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets in 1985; Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002; and Jake Peavy in 2007. One of his two sons, Bart, lives nearby, and he enjoys baseball and embraces the advanced metrics that have emerged in the past 15 years. In a six-year big-league career, James hit 29 home runs. Charles Maher, LAffaire Drysdale-Koufax: Villains or Heroes?, Los Angeles Times, March 27, 1966, p. G-1. Kids Free All Summer, it says, with a phone number you can't read (seems the batter and umpire are in the way). It was his second no-hitter. This series was also the first meeting between teams from New York City and Los Angeles for a major professional sports championship. In order to harness his immense talent, Koufax had to learn to trust and tame ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. Over the years, Hendley's appreciation of Koufax has grown. But Marichal and Spahn had surrendered eight hits each before a home run by Willie Mays ended the 16-inning, 1-0 game. He has covered 27 World Series, 19 Wimbledons and many other major events, including the Super Bowl, World Cup soccer, NBA Finals, four major golf tournaments and U.S. Open tennis championships. With that, the two decided to negotiate their contracts as a package, demanding $1 million (about $6.7 million in current dollars) between them over three years. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." Gibson fractured a bone above his right ankle and his leg was placed in a cast. When they went to St. Louis for a three-game series on September 16, their lead was one game over the Cardinals, who had won 19 of 20 games. ), Video: 50 Greatest Moments: #2 Koufax's perfect game, "We pitched against each other twice in six days," Hendley recalls. Others also saw a few weaknesses in Koufax. Cy Young Award winner. Koufax was routinely identified in Los Angeles newspapers as Sandy, no surname necessary. (LogOut/ Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Koufax Cites Pressures on Pro Athletes, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1969, p. E-12. "Sandy always has been gracious toward me," he said. "I was standing on the top step of the dugout, at the end. Haddix carried a perfect game into the 13th against a most formidable Braves lineup. On Sept. 21, 1962, at St. Louis, Koufax was making his first start in more than two months. Other pitching performance have dazzled us over the years. Other pitching performance have dazzled us over the years. ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. The Pirates traded Groat to the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 1963 season, and he nearly won a second MVP trophy, finishing as the runner-up to Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax. By the spring of 1954 he was also pitching for the college baseball team, and doing quite well. "Early in the game, I didn't have great stuff," Koufax said afterward. James hadnt hit a home run or driven in a run all month. [8], 1963 World Series (40): Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L.) In the 1963 World Series, the Dodgers (99-63) faced the New York Yankees (104-57), with the Yankees favored to win the best-of-seven fall classic. Of Vin Scullys historic broadcast of the game, one Salon.com writer, Gary Kaufman, offered this description: I found a transcript of Scullys call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufaxs perfect game It read like a short story. His career resum includes a 48-52 record, 3.97 ERA, 25 complete games, six shutouts. "To be beaten by class, beaten by the guy who is one of the best, if not the best ever.