Sandy Koufax one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history turns 77 today.

Ten Notes On Sandy Koufax

1. Sandy Koufax was born Sanford Braun on this day in 1935. His parents divorced when he was three and he would take the last name of his step-father Irving Koufax. Sandy was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family was Jewish. In high school Koufax was known more for his basketball talents than for his baseball accomplishments. He would go to the University of Cincinnati as a walk on basketball player. His baseball playing though is what caught the eye of the scouts.

2. Sandy Koufax didn’t have a long career. He had 6 great seasons before having to retire because of arthritis in his left elbow at the age of 30. But those great years were among the best baseball has ever seen. His first six seasons were difficult. He had the great fastball but struggled with control. He was 19 when he first broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He had to be on the major league roster because he was a ‘bonus’ baby and the rules said you had to carry such a player on the major league roster. In 1961 at the age of 25 all the sudden everything clicked and Sandy Koufax became lights out. In the last 5ive seasons of his career he led the league in Earned Run Average all 5ive seasons. He led the league in strikeouts in four of his last six seasons. He pitched for the most pathetic hitting team in baseball while doing all this. He won 3 Cy Young Awards during this time. This was when they only gave out one Cy Young Award -combining both leagues. The only starting pitcher in the modern era [from 1920 on- the live ball era} only one pitcher has a better career ERA than Koufax’s 2.76. That is Whitey Ford’s 2.75 ERA.

3. The one player I just missed seeing that I wish I had seen was Sandy Koufax. I became a fan the year after he retired. Over the years when I asked older fans the question “Who is the best player you’ve ever seen” their is usually a pause while they think- and they may have an answer but they will also mention a number of great players. When I asked them “Who is the best pitcher you’ve ever seen” nine times out of ten the answer comes back at me rapid fire “Sandy Koufax” and then they go on and on about how great he was and what a thrill it was to watch him pitch.

4. In Sandy Koufax’s last ever start in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series- Willie Davis the Dodgers outstanding centerfielder made three errors in the fifth inning. He came off the field to a chorus of boos. When he stepped in the dugout Sandy Koufax walked up to him and put his arm around him and said “Don’t let it get you down”

5. Sandy Koufax’s career stats- 165 wins 87 losses. He had 2396 strikeouts. When he went into the Hall of Fame [at age 36 the youngest Hall of Famer ever} he was the first Baseball Hall of Famer who had more strikeouts than innings pitched. Sandy had 4 no-hitters one of those was a perfect game. He pitched on four World Series Championship teams. He was the MVP of two World Series and the 1963 National League MVP. His #32 is retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility 1972.

6. One of the best sports biographies in recent years was Jane Leavy’s biography from 2003 on Sandy Koufax “Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy” highly recommended. I liked her recent book on Mickey Mantle too but Sandy is a much more admirable figure. Great book.

7. Koufax was amazing in the World Series he pitched in. He pitched in 8 World Series games, started 7 of the 8 games. He had a record of 4-3 which doesn’t tell the story. In 57 innings pitched his career ERA in World Series play was 0.95.

8. Ok I will say something bad about Sandy Koufax- he was a lousy hitter. His career average was .097. Now back to something good- he only had 2 pitches- a fast ball that had a rising motion and a curveball that was unhittable. There were times late in his career where they say he tipped his pitches. The hitter knew what was coming but it didn’t matter they still couldn’t hit him. The great Willie Mays once said just that “I knew every pitch he was going to throw but I still couldn’t hit him” Willie Stargell said ” Trying to hit him was like trying to drink coffee with a fork”

9. Koufax will always be remembered what he did on October 6th,1965. Game 1 of the World Series. The Dodgers going against the Minnesota Twins. Koufax was head and shoulders the greatest pitcher in the game. He would open the World Series for the Dodgers, expect for one issue. October 6th was also Yom Kipper. Koufax being Jewish chose not to pitch on that day because of Yom Kipper. Don Drysdale pitched the game for the Dodgers instead and got beat. When Dodger manager Smokey Alston came out to the mound to remove Drysdale from the game he told Drysdale who had not pitched well that day “Why couldn’t you have been jewish too?” The Dodgers won that World Series. Sandy Koufax was named by Sports Illustrated their “Sportsman Of The Year” for 1965.

10. Going into 1966, Koufax’s final season the two great Dodgers pitchers- Koufax and Drysdale held out and negotiated their contracts together. They held out until the last week of spring training when both of them got a new deal for more money. During this time they both had signed to play in a movie. Koufax went into this season knowing it would be his last. The pain he was going through was too much. His final season has to be the greatest final season anyone has ever had in any sport. He won 27 and lost 9 with a 1.73 ERA.  He led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts with 317, innings pitched with 323 and in complete games. He completed 27 of his 41 starts. Remarkable.