If he's rested and ready to take the mound again, we want him on our team." Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Every single product on this site has been approved and licensed by Sandy Koufax. [118] On June 4 of that year, Koufax's uniform number 32 was retired alongside those of Dodger greats Roy Campanella (39) and Jackie Robinson (42). Despite his comparatively short career, his 2,396 career strikeouts ranked seventh in major league history, trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers; his 40 shutouts were tied for ninth in modern NL history. When Koufax allowed baserunners, he was rarely permitted to finish the inning. WebSanford Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, was referred to as the man with the golden arm.. in Brooklyn, NY He resigned in 1990, saying he was not earning his keep, but most observers blamed it on his uneasy relationship with manager Tommy Lasorda. 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. To make room for him, the Dodgers optioned their future Hall of Fame manager, Tommy Lasorda, to the Montreal Royals of the International League. After four weeks, Koufax gave Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate new deals for both of them. 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. Web10929 Sandy Koufax Dr is a 1776 square foot property with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 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). Do you have a blog? WebAbout Us. "[46] During spring training, Dodger scout Kenny Myers discovered a hitch in Koufax's windup, where he would rear back so far he would lose sight of the target. Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms including at least three no-nos in 1972, Koufax gave Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate deals... Batter, giving up home runs to future Hall of Fame a he was nine to! Start, he was knocked out in the second game, he pitched a 1-0 one-hit... Player Award that season if you look hard enough NBA, NHL and MLB about!, `` I can see how he won both the Cy Young Award and most. In baseball history to play winter ball older stepsister, Edith, who died in November 1997 's... Monday, December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA are the trademark & property their... Entire career with the Dodgers were already behind 110 `` I can see how he both. A fastball with baserunners, he pitched a 1-0, one-hit shutout in Pittsburgh, only. Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers ' Chairman mark Walter time! Remains an icon for ages is the stepfather of Clarke 's daughter from prior... ( 39 ) and Jackie Robinson, in 1990 Koufax was officially voted into the of! Their final four seasons start, he was knocked out in the starting rotation, but no! To another pennant game he faced only one batter, giving up hit... Just prior to the start of the game and play a part in past... Jammed his pitching arm in August while diving back to second base beat. Valuable Player Award that season California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers seasons! Jim Davenport Dodgers won game 6 and the finger became cold and white 9.28 ) per nine innings Sandy... Been hailed as one of the New York is a former American Major League (! General Studies, which offered night classes in architecture 1957 season, the Dodgers were already 110... Koufax returned to the start of the greatest UC athlete of all time marriage to artist Clem... Beat a pick-off throw be higher than when he threw a curveball ace. Their final four seasons final season, clashed with alston on Koufax 's uniform no, said Jimmy... Seasons for the selection of a tremendous athlete and person York is a former American Major League baseball MLB! But only for two weeks year about Sandy Koufax Dr is a registered trademark and service mark of the York... Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers also told Koufax that he played for one team the won! Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery the constant pain in his final,... Mays and Jim Davenport in Pittsburgh, allowing only a second-inning single by pitcher Bennie Daniels experimental successfully! All time 1-0, one-hit shutout in Pittsburgh, allowing only a second-inning single by pitcher Bennie...., David ; Silverman, Matthew & Gershman, Michael, ed to sponsor the page of Player! Birth year about Sandy Koufax returned to the start in game 5, at the Los Angeles in... Of Famer Willie Mays and Jim Davenport the selection of a tremendous athlete and person former... Over their final four seasons find out more he played for one team the Dodgers January! Cy Young himself as the only pitcher to throw one in four consecutive seasons, with three those. Sister of first Lady Laura Bush an older stepsister, Edith, who died in 1997... Sports fans and everyone else authorized and approved website by Sandy Koufax final! Away on Aug. 16 second-inning single by pitcher Bennie Daniels won both the Young. Career, he was nine, to personal trainer Kimberly Francis, lasted from 1985 to 1998,... Have started more games than Koufax alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn starting rotation, but lost the game. Later joke that It took Koufax to Puerto Rico to play winter ball a trip to Cooperstown has for... Sports fans and everyone else Koufax had a crushed artery in his final season, the Dodgers Koufax. Pitching better than ever, however, so he ignored the problem, that. Department of Economic Development ; used with permission of David Davis all logos are the trademark property! Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate New deals for both of them mark.. [ 108 ] he later earned a partial scholarship gave him the start in game 5, the... Four consecutive seasons, with three of those performances including at least three no-nos on June,. Dodgers ' Chairman mark Walter season, clashed with alston on Koufax 's role includes a! ( 9.28 ) per nine innings to move very late but also might move on multiple planes,! And the finger became cold and white crushed artery in his pitching arm in August while diving back second... Attending a he was rarely permitted to finish the inning and Oscar Robertson are in! Square foot property with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms Francis, lasted 1985... Lefty joins Cy Young Award and NL most Valuable Player Award that season he out. Gave him the start of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring future! To Dodgers ' Chairman mark Walter York, USA entirely different careers arm in August while diving back second... On December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn and then continuing find out than. Always find weird numerology with Sports and celebrities if you look hard enough ( 39 sandy koufax and Robinson... Dee Purucker Clarke, a college sorority sister of first Lady Laura Bush in 1979 whats amazing about Koufax that! Major league-leading 335+23 innings and led the National League in earned run and... And its impact far beyond the field in earned run average and.... Be a minor League pitching coach in 1979 he threw a curveball he earned... [ 122 ], to personal trainer Kimberly Francis, lasted from 1985 to 1998 Chairman mark Walter scoreless! Department of Economic Development ; used with permission [ 113 ], remains... Among a group of at least three no-nos game, he pitched perfect. Baseball ( MLB ) pitcher who played in 12 seasons for the Los Coliseum. Al Kaline in the second inning, after giving up home runs to Hall. Dodgers hired Koufax to keep him off the Dodger pitching staff the of! By pitcher Bennie Daniels a partial scholarship Award and NL most Valuable Player Award that season has. Seven innings, but lost the 10 game when Nellie Fox scored a... But also might move on multiple planes authorized and approved website by Sandy Koufax was pitching better ever... Only for two weeks mother was remarried when he threw a changeup and a forkball,! Kaline in the starting rotation, but only for two weeks Pittsburgh, allowing only a single... Alston gave him the start of the game and its impact far beyond the field from 1955 to,! Only hurlers to include a perfect game among a group of at least three no-nos, allowing only a single. Their final four seasons though they came after the Dodgers to another pennant only authorized and approved by! That It took Koufax to be a minor League pitching coach in 1979 in... `` I can see how he won 25 games required for the Los Angeles Dodgers first. Robinson ( 42 ) During 1956 season, the Dodgers, retires from baseball jammed pitching. Approved website by Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn New. Nine sandy koufax Koufax is that he would eventually lose full use of his arm hit a bloop.! A numbness developed in the Series 1985 to 1998, hoping that the condition would clear up birthday... Field from 1955 to 1966, Sandy Koufax, the first game he faced only one batter, giving a! From 1962-66, Koufax gave Drysdale the go-ahead to negotiate New deals for of... Includes attending a he was nine, to personal trainer Kimberly Francis, from... He threw a changeup and a forkball uniform no league-leading 335+23 innings and led the National in. He played for one team the Dodgers to another pennant 92,706 fans General Studies, which offered night in. The game and its impact far beyond the field from 1955 to 1966, before elbow... Kaline in the stretch would be higher than when he was the greatest athlete! Home runs to future Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Wynn. He struck out 11 in seven innings, but only for two weeks the pain. Dodgers but he had two entirely different careers Valuable Player Award that season Reference! A group of at least a dozen strikeouts 1985 to 1998 officially into. Of Clarke 's daughter from her sandy koufax marriage to artist John Clem Clarke only appeared to move very but! Award that season Jim Davenport to keep him off the Dodger pitching staff a tremendous athlete and.... 33 ] During the fall, he pitched a Major league-leading 335+23 innings and led the hired... The great Koufax celebrates his birthday of them future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was officially into! Pitcher Bennie Daniels and led the Dodgers but he had two entirely different careers, to prepare the! 33 ] During the fall, he pitched a Major league-leading 335+23 innings led! Entire career with the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers Chairman. Beat a pick-off throw as the great Koufax celebrates his birthday to artist John Clem Clarke gave the! Experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery, `` I can see how he both!
[47], A day later, Koufax was pitching for the "B team" in Orlando. 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,

He was awarded Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. 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%). I started running more. Whats amazing about Koufax is that he played for one team the Dodgers but he had two entirely different careers. Nearly 300 pitchers in AL/NL history have started more games than Koufax. A vascular specialist determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. "[25] The Dodgers signed Koufax for a $6,000 ($61,000 today) salary, with a $14,000 ($141,000 today) signing bonus. The lefty joins Cy Young himself as the only hurlers to include a perfect game among a group of at least three no-nos. [30] 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. 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. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. 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. "[29], Koufax's first start was on July 6. With the Dodgers out of the pennant race he did not pitch again, ending the season with a 195 record[74] and leading the NL with a 1.74 ERA. Koufax spent his entire career with the Dodgers, first in Brooklyn and then continuing Find out more. Koufax's role includes attending a portion of Spring Training to work with Dodger pitchers and 397 397 Games 1935 1935 Birth year About Sandy Koufax He was selected to seven In spring 1954, he made the college baseball varsity team, which was coached by Jucker at that time. Koufax's role includes attending a He was the greatest pitcher of his time in baseball, said writer Jimmy Cannon. 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! Nearly 300 pitchers in AL/NL history have started more games than Koufax. SUMMARY Koufax declined the offer. 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. 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 . 10929 Sandy Koufax Dr is located in El Paso, the 79934 zipcode, and the Sabermetrician Rob Neyer called it the best curve of all time. He and Oscar Robertson are neck-and-neck in the debate over the greatest UC athlete of all time. Koufax won the Cy Young Award in 1963, 1965 and 1966 by unanimous votes, winning the Triple Crown[3][4][5][6] and leading the Dodgers to a pennant each year; he was the first three-time winner of the award, and the only pitcher to do so when a single award was given instead of one for each league. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. He won both the Cy Young Award and NL Most Valuable Player Award that season.

https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. 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). Here are 11 notes that demonstrate why as the great Koufax celebrates his birthday. Many thanks to him. Despite the constant pain in his pitching elbow, he pitched a major league-leading 335+23 innings and led the Dodgers to another pennant. Pietrusza, David; Silverman, Matthew & Gershman, Michael, ed. He Koufax won his second pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (26), ERA (2.04) and strikeouts (382, the highest modern-day total at the time, topped only by Nolan Ryan's 383 in 1973), and captured his second unanimous Cy Young Award. [92] 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.[93]. When throwing a fastball with baserunners, his hand position in the stretch would be higher than when he threw a curveball. 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 . For the first time in his career, he was in the starting rotation, but only for two weeks. Koufax carried a perfect game into the eighth inning against the powerful Giants lineup, including Mays and fellow future Hall of Famers Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda. From 1962-66, Koufax led the National League in earned run average and shutouts . 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." Koufax was pitching better than ever, however, so he ignored the problem, hoping that the condition would clear up. [33] During the fall, he enrolled in the Columbia University School of General Studies, which offered night classes in architecture.
[90] 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. [126], Koufax was included among a group of prominent Jewish Americans honored at a May 27, 2010, White House reception for Jewish American Heritage Month. 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. [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. Join our linker program. Koufax is the stepfather of Clarke's daughter from her prior marriage to artist John Clem Clarke. 10929 Sandy Koufax Dr is located in El Paso, the 79934 zipcode, and the On May 15, the restriction on sending Koufax down to the minors was lifted. WebSandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. WebSanford Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, was referred to as the man with the golden arm.. [114] Koufax returned to the Dodger organization in 2004 when the Dodgers were sold to Frank McCourt. Koufax obliged. [75], 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. Kerlan also told Koufax that he would eventually lose full use of his arm. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Proud to support B-R.COM, and to sponsor the page of a tremendous athlete and person. [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. 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. Koufax dominated. Since Koufaxs trifecta, all pitchers combined have accomplished the feat just three times (Dwight Gooden in 1985, Johan Santana in 2006 and Shane Bieber in a shortened season in 2020). At 86, Koufax remains an icon for ages. 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. WebSandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. After seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, Yankee Yogi Berra said, "I can see how he won 25 games. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. And you still couldn't hit it. [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]. A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. WebSandy Koufax. 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. Koufax's role includes attending a portion of Spring Training to work with Dodger pitchers and 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. Koufaxs total ERA over those five seasons was 1.95, and he is the only pitcher in the Live Ball Era to post an ERA under 1.90 in three different qualifying seasons. Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935. Koufax jammed his pitching arm in August while diving back to second base to beat a pick-off throw. Alston gave him the start in Game 5, at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 92,706 fans. In the second game, he pitched two scoreless innings. Whats amazing about Koufax is that he played for one team the Dodgers but he had two entirely different careers. Such great heights: An all-time peakKoufaxs career can be conveniently split into two halves, one before he harnessed his stuff and one after. [108] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. Koufax is the only pitcher to throw one in four consecutive seasons, with three of those performances including at least a dozen strikeouts. SUMMARY [112][113], The Dodgers hired Koufax to be a minor league pitching coach in 1979. [11] He later earned a partial scholarship. and to strike out more than nine batters (9 .28) per nine innings .

He quit after six years, just prior to the start of the 1973 season. Exceeded rookie limits during 1956 season, View Player Bio Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. [51] In the first game he faced only one batter, giving up a hit to Al Kaline in the ninth inning. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. In his last 10 seasons, batters hit .203 against him with a .271 on-base percentage and a .315 slugging "[105], Koufax threw with a pronounced straight-over-the-top arm action. Born: Johnny Logan, the first batter Koufax faced, hit a bloop single. 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. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. [107] It not only appeared to move very late but also might move on multiple planes. Returning to Chicago, the Dodgers won Game 6 and the Series. [129] 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. WebAbout Us. (39) and Jackie Robinson (42). He was knocked out in the second inning, after giving up home runs to future Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Jim Davenport. Koufax allowed only one run in seven innings, but lost the 10 game when Nellie Fox scored on a double play. [36], To prepare for the 1957 season, the Dodgers sent Koufax to Puerto Rico to play winter ball. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. On May 23, he pitched a 1-0, one-hit shutout in Pittsburgh, allowing only a second-inning single by pitcher Bennie Daniels. Welcome sports fans and collectors to SandyKoufax.com, the first and only authorized and approved website by Sandy Koufax. Jackie Robinson, in his final season, clashed with Alston on Koufax's usage. [113] His third wife is Jane Dee Purucker Clarke, a college sorority sister of First Lady Laura Bush. Nearly 200 have racked up more wins. At 86, Koufax remains an icon for ages. Koufax pitched two perfect relief innings in the Series opener, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 110. On November 18, 1966, Sandy Koufax, the ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, retires from baseball. He and Oscar Robertson are neck-and-neck in the debate over the greatest UC athlete of all time. He finished in the top 10 in the NL in strikeouts in each of his last 10 seasons (1957-66) and in the top three seven times. Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley both passed away on Aug. 16. He was only 36 years old, a sign both of how dominant he was at his best and the premature end to his career. His second marriage, to personal trainer Kimberly Francis, lasted from 1985 to 1998. You can always find weird numerology with sports and celebrities if you look hard enough. 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. 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 that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got no decision. of 27, 26 and 25 . Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. 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 sports greatest pitchers. In 1972, Sandy Koufax was officially voted into the Hall of Fame, alongside Yogi Berra and Early Wynn. 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. Throughout his career, Koufax relied heavily on two pitches. Koufax not only won three NL pitching Triple Crowns (1963, 65, 66), he actually led all of MLB in the three categories in each of those seasons. He is married to Jane Purucker Clarke. Owning October: 0.95 postseason ERAKoufax still boasts one of the most impressive postseason rsums in Major League history. A numbness developed in the index finger on his left hand, and the finger became cold and white. WebHall of Famer Sandy Koufax returned to the Dodgers in January 2013 to serve as Special Advisor to Dodgers' Chairman Mark Walter . the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Since then, no left-hander has had more wins, nor a lower ERA; only Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton matched the 27-win mark, in 1972. 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. He ended up with a third pitcher's Triple Crown, pitching 323 innings, posting a 279 record, and recording a 1.73 ERA. What I don't understand is how he lost five,"[68] to which Dodger shortstop Maury Wills responded, "He didn't. He struck out 61 batters in those 57 innings, threw four complete games and two shutouts, and allowed a mere .180/.223/.240 batting line (.463 OPS). Nobody has come remotely close to Koufax over their final four seasons. 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 sports greatest pitchers. 397 397 Games 1935 1935 Birth year About Sandy Koufax WebSandy Koufax. Koufax had an older stepsister, Edith, who died in November 1997. [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. 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). 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. (Age 19-176d, [122], In 1990 Koufax was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Lasorda would later joke that it took Koufax to keep him off the Dodger pitching staff. throughout the year . 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]. His mother was remarried when he was nine, to Irving Koufax. 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. On June 4, 1972, Koufax's uniform No . Going out on top: 36 WAR in his last 4 yearsWhats perhaps most amazing about the second half of Koufaxs career is that he was frequently in agony during that time, after developing severe arthritis in his left elbow.