There is no better known name, no more respected player in the game of baseball than Sandy Koufax. Sure, there’s Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, but Sandy Koufax is right up there with them. Koufax had a short but intense 11 year career with the Dodgers back when they were in Brooklyn. He only played for the Dodgers.
Sandy Koufax pitched left handed and he did it better than almost anyone who has ever played the game of baseball. He pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. In 1972 Koufax became the youngest player ever to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was 36 years old.
Koufax had 6 outstanding seasons with the Dodgers from 1961 through1966. He was named the National Leagues’ Most Valuable Player in 1963 and also won the coveted Cy Young Award three times by unanimous votes. He was the first 3 time Cy Young winner in the history of the award. He was forced into premature retirement by raging arthritis in his left elbow. He was only 30 when he left off pitching for good.
Among the other accolades won by Sandy Koufax are 7 All Star Games, 4 World Series Championships, 2 World Series MVP’s and 2 Babe Ruth Awards. He also won baseballs Triple Crown in 1963,’65 & ’66. There have been few pitchers who captured the attention of baseball fans everywhere like Sandy Koufax. During his career he pitched 4 no hitters and on September 9, 1965, he pitched a perfect game.
He is member of the MLB All Century Team and the All Time Team. The Dodgers have long ago retired his number 32.
And now, at age 77, Sandy Koufax is making a return to baseball as a special advisor to chairman Mark Walter and the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. What a kick for the players on the Dodgers team….especially the pitching staff….to have the greatest pitcher in franchise history there to help you along next year. Just his presence at the ball park has got to be an inspiration to anyone who has ever followed the sport.
“I’m delighted to be back with the Dodgers,” Koufax said. “I’m looking forward to spending time with the team during Spring Training and to contributing in any way I can to help make the team a success for the fans of Los Angeles.
Some of my most cherished memories came at Dodger Stadium.”
Welcome back Mr. Koufax!
