did sandy koufax ever hit a homerun

Moreover, Hendley's ERA in his six starts opposite Koufax was 2.98. Roscoe McGowen, Dodgers Win; Koufax Is Victor Dodger Allows 2 Hits, Fans 14 in Beating Redlegs, 7 to 0, New York Times, August 28, 1955. Sandy Koufax went on to hold the Yankees for the final two innings for a 21 victory and the Dodgers' third world championship. Frank Howard homered into the second deck down the left-field line, a feat that went unmatched at Dodger Stadium for years. In the top of the second, the Dodgers scored four runs, including a three-run home run by Roseboro. 1956 Topps baseball trading card for Sandy Koufax, pitcher, Brooklyn Dodgers. And seven of the 22, including Koufax's, have been decided by 1-0 scores. The storyline isn't only that he pitched a perfect game 50 years ago tonight, but rather that the opposing pitcher, one Bob Hendley, pitched a one-hitter while Koufax was perfecting his resum. Koufax walked the next batter, Gene Oliver, and was relieved by Ed Roebuck. Years later, James told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, You couldnt hit Koufaxs 100 mph fastball, but if the ball started at the knees, it would rise to belt high by the time it got to the plate. "I was standing on the top step of the dugout, at the end. (Voted by BBWAA on 344/396 ballots) 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. Seldom has a person & pitcher pairing produced such excellence on both sides of the ampersand. Out of those two transitionary years, 1961-62, Sandy Koufax the master-of-all-time, baseballs Leonardo, arrived. And you still couldnt hit it. Pete Rose, baseballs all-time hit leader, also had trouble hitting Koufax, batting an anemic .175 against him. But for Sandy Koufax, the mid-1960s were the awesome years. Gregg Doyel, one of the scholastic pitchers Hendley coached, became a sportswriter and eventually learned, via the board game Trivial Pursuit, of his coach's accomplishments. The storyline isn't only that he pitched a perfect game 50 years ago tonight, but rather that the opposing pitcher, one Bob Hendley, pitched a one-hitter while Koufax was perfecting his resum. The momentum he created for himself brought out the best in Scully and a powerful sense of resignation for Hendley. Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1987: Year of the Smiths, Ozzie and J.T., forCardinals, Harry Parker: Best selection of Cardinals firstdraft. Maybe Ill go back to where I came from and finish college.. And to add class and a coating of brilliance to their tandem achievement, the game was narrated by a man who has risen to the level of national icon because of his genius in the booth, Vin Scully. Sandy Koufax Out Longer Than ExpectedFour to Six Weeks, Los Angeles Times, July 20, 1962, p. B-1. Koufax wasnt as sharp as he would be in later no-hitters, walking five and narrowly escaping trouble several times. Koufax played his entire career with the Dodgers organization, from Brooklyn, New York through Los Angeles, California,1955 to1966. background-image:unset; He had to have a tailor shorten the left sleeve on all his coats. 4 Who was Sandy Koufax for the Brooklyn Dodgers? "To be beaten by class, beaten by the guy who is one of the best, if not the best ever. He walked two. "Easy," someone said at the time. Merely Koufax vs. Whitey Ford. His 2,396 career strikeouts at retirement in 1966 ranked 7th best all-time. The injury was much more serious _ a crushed artery in the palm of his hand, according to Jane Leavy in her book Sandy Koufax: A Leftys Legacy.. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Koufax attracted the notice of at least one scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers. "We both gave up two runs, we both allowed five hits. 1960 baseball trading card, Sandy Koufax, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers. He won 25 games three times and captured five straight ERA titles from 1962 through 1966. All rights reserved. How many strikeouts did Sandy Koufax have in the World Series? Famous Dodgers who played in that same era included Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, Gil Hodges, Don Newcombe, Gino Cimoli, John Roseboro, among others. in journalistic studies in 1971. BRUCE JENKINS -- Mantle vs. Koufax: A Homer to Remember, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, 'Horrible': Oakland rapper dumps on Chase Center Warriors fans, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, 49ers out in full force at Warriors-Kings Game 7, Sold-out Berkeley crowd gets rowdy at country star's concert, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis. But the losing pitcher in each of the seven instances surrendered at least two more hits than Hendley. In the decades that have passed, the legend of that game has grown. Even Wilt, Whitey and Yogi seldom were identified in their city's newspaper reports in such an informal manner. We didn't get American League baseball until 1961 during my youth in Southern California, and even then, for most Dodger fans, the Angels were a joke. We tuned in the other night and heard Greenwald and Mike Krukow chastising Barry Bonds for his blatant judgment errors -- in this case, standing at home plate to watch his line drive hit the base of the wall. A number of his former players contacted him after Doyel's story appeared. Jim Bouton, making his first World Series start, dueled Drysdale throughout, permitting only four hits in seven innings for a losing cause. Who is the real home run king? amzn_assoc_linkid = "8c083521b8631f9e22b58f0cb91ed1bc"; Koufax, however, kept Kerlans advice to himself and went out every fourth day to pitch. He clinched the pennant for Los Angeles for the second straight year with a complete game on two days rest. Koufax was as magnificent a pitcher as any who ever has stood on a big league mound. And he remains as splendid a human being as any who has graced the planet -- courteous, caring, generous and unassuming. Get well, Mick. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. You could tell how much he wanted it. Sandy Koufax The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Viking; 1st edition; 299 pp. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Robert Creamer, An Urgent Matter Of One Index Finger, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 1963. [8], 1963 World Series (40): Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L.) And even then his arm would swell an inch. By the way, Hendley allowed just one walk. Koufax was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. They created an enduring memory that night. "Sandy always has been gracious toward me," he said. Koufax was obviously one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, but his breaking balls were what was so devastating. 54-56. His column ended thusly: "Today he turns 75. In late August 1964, the morning after winning his 19th game a shutout with 13 strikeouts he could not straighten his arm. Koufax won the first of his three Triple Crowns that year, leading the league with 25 wins, 306 strikeouts, and a 1.88 ERA. Phone: 602.496.1460 His one-word identity spread over all of baseball. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; PopHistoryDig.com, July 10, 2010. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; ), Video: 50 Greatest Moments: #2 Koufax's perfect game, "We pitched against each other twice in six days," Hendley recalls. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; And healso took Butazolidin for inflammation and applied a capsaicin-based ointment to his arm known to athletes as atomic balm before each game. His column ended thusly: "Today he turns 75. After one more relief outing, Koufax got his first start, on July 6, 1955. Sandy Koufaxs Perfect Game, Wikipedia.org. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Click for copy. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." He had started once in two months, on Sept. 2, before opposing Koufax in a ballpark where he had been mostly unsuccessful. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Koufax 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. But the losing pitcher in each of the seven instances surrendered at least two more hits than Hendley. This time, it was a pitcher's duel. Mays' home run came on Spahn's 201st pitch. Last Update:31 December 2020 With Koufax leading the way on the mound, the Dodgers went on to capture the National League pennant and sweep the New York Yankees in the World Series. 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. Writing for CBSSports.com, Doyel blew Hendley's cover in a column on April 30, 2015, the coach's 75th birthday. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Change). He told Life reporter Tommy Thompson: I want to enjoy all this while it lasts. And the Angels still were barely beyond the toddler stage in 1965. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For there was a time in his career, at one seasons end in 1960, when he threw his glove and spikes into the trash can, believing he was through with baseball. But in the final game of the regular season, the Dodgers had to beat the Phillies to win the pennant. The results clearly suggested that. Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax were scheduled to start against one another in a September 1962 showdown of two of the premier pitchers of the era. He and the city were connected like JFK and Hyannisport, like Elvis and Memphis. Fifty years ago on October 6, at the tender age of 30, Sandy Koufax bowed out of baseball. Frank Finch, Koufax, Drysdale Spurn Record Offer by Dodgers, Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1966, p. B-1. 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 This forced the Dodgers to keep him on the major league roster for at least two years before he could be sent to the minors. amzn_assoc_linkid = "8d4cde52eff6bfe761392f95d7780402"; The connection between Koufax and the other gentleman, the pitcher who made that game perfection-plus, is long distance and infrequent. Ford set the Dodgers down in order in the first inning, but got into trouble in the second inning. And the Angels still were barely beyond the toddler stage in 1965. Gilliam almost scored again in the eighth off Hal Reniff, but was caught in an attempt to steal third. Why did Sandy He ended up pitching 323 innings that year, finishing with a 27-9 record. Frank Finch, Koufax, Drysdale Eye $1 Million Pact, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1966, p. B-1. The A's took the dive last year, and in a way, you can't blame teams for seeking free advertising on the center-field camera. ", "Hitting would be a lot more rewarding," Quiz reasoned, "if you could hit the ball in any direction. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; In the game we examine herein, the performance Hendley delivered indicates that a victory or non-victory doesn't begin to evaluate a pitcher's performance in a sensible, meaningful way. Koufax, meanwhile, was perfect no runs, no hits, no walks. Koufax would hold that record until 1981 when Nolan Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter. In a six-year big-league career, James hit 29 home runs. . Koufax, meanwhile,was making his first appearance since a one-inning start July 17 at Cincinnati. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; He struck out his final six batters and eight of the final 10. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Also, of the seven championships from the Dodgers franchise, it remains the only one won at home. 2) Roberto Clemente - went 33 for 111 against Koufax for a .297 batting average with 6 HRs and 16 RBIs. But a mutual respect is evident between Hendley and the master. Portion of a Topps baseball card from the 1960s featuring ERA leaders of the day. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 3 What was the crowd at Sandy Koufaxs first no hitter? Sandy Koufax makes final pitch of 63 World Series. And Drysdale, so mean, so precise, pitched a three- hit shutout. The event they created, known as nothing more than "CHI at LA" before it began, stands among the most astonishing games ever played at any point of any baseball season. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. WebOf his four no-hitters, Sandy Koufax saved his finest for last. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Koufax's ERA in those games was 3.65. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; There were 21 guys who did this in 2022, setting a new MLB record. Use of his left arm was severely limited when he wasnt pitching. (The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series in Game 6 while they were designated as the home team, but the game was played at a neutral site, Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Played for the Dodgers his entire career. Frank Finch; Koufax Wins, Shelved by Injury,Los Angeles Times, Jul 13, 1962, p. C-1. It was the first time since 1924 that both leagues had pitching Triple Crown winners in the same season. Clemente struckout 20 times against Koufax. With the count 2-and-2, Koufax was a strike away from getting out of the jam. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 1966 book Koufax by Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn. Gibson was 15-13 with a 2.85 ERA. 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. Aces were on the mound again in a game 1 rematch between Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. Sanford Koufax, who was actually born Sanford Braun, was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1955-1957) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1966). The Drysdale-Jim Bouton duel in Game 3 (a 1-0 final) was the greatest single day of pitching I've ever seen. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. He had allowed eight walks combined in his three, earlier no-hitters. ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. This could be another tale of the astounding exploits of Sandy Koufax, one more of so many; and each one warranted. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, http://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/Koufax-Sandy-NBHOF.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, his perfect game at Dodger Stadium on September 9, 1965, old.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/kessler200604032246.asp. A tremendous blast by any standards. "And I came out a loser. Koufax compiled a 25-and-5 win-loss record in 1963 as the Dodgers won the NL pennant and he became the first-ever unanimous selection for the Cy Young award for best pitcher. But in the bottom of the inning, Gilliam hit a high hopper to Yankee third baseman Clete Boyer; Boyer leaped to make the grab, and fired an accurate throw to first base. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. However, during this time, the commissioner of the MLB, Bowie Kuhn, and Aaron began to butt heads. 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. And Koufax admitted in one interview to having a good bit of trouble with Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially in 1963. Koufax sought to rest more and not throw as much between starts. Sandy Koufax Career highlight stats. Burdette, who was the winning pitcher, allowed 12 hits in his complete game victory, though. More remarkable was that Koufax was the losing pitcher in each of the other instances. Nothing wrong with that.". Video: Doddgers Retired Number: No. Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax (cover story). Frank Finch, Sandy Koufax Hurls No-Hit, 5-0 Win, Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1962, p E-1. He had allowed eight walks combined in his three, earlier no-hitters. And that loss was in his only career one-hitter. Gibson fractured a bone above his right ankle and his leg was placed in a cast. Howard added a home run in the seventh. He and the city were connected like JFK and Hyannisport, like Elvis and Memphis. "This game is the most recognizable thing I've ever done in baseball," Hendley said after the game. And what a great lesson that is. In the 1965 World Series, the Dodgers faced the Minnesota Twins, and Koufax was the likely candidate to pitch Game 1 on October 6th, 1965. His mother later remarried when Sandy was nine, to Irving Koufax, who Sandy regarded as his father. He was the first iconic sports figure to emerge in Southern California after Major League Baseball arrived on the West Coast. Others also saw a few weaknesses in Koufax. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. On that night, Sept. 9, 1965, with both pitchers and Scully at their bests, Hendley was nearly the equal of Koufax. What made the game such a seductive piece of history was, of course, Koufax's involvement. His only grand slam was the one off Koufax. Koufax, on two days rest, pitched a complete game, with the Dodgers winning 6-3 to clinch the NL pennant. 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. Koufax was as magnificent a pitcher as any who ever has stood on a big league mound. Koufax started 41 games that year as he did the previous year. Hendley was a spot starter in 1965. He did have two home runs. They expressed similar admiration for Aaron. Considering the deadline pressure, SportsChannel is doing a nice job condensing the weekday Giants and A's games into one-hour packages ("SportsChannel Light"), an especially rewarding treat if you haven't heard the score. Edward Gruver, Koufax, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2000. In that game, Koufax struck out the first five Yankees he faced. Do you have a sports website? 097 in his career. Because there are no announcers in the TV booth, SportsChannel is picking up that day's radio call -- also a pleasant surprise, with the chance to hear Hank Greenwald and Lon Simmons doing television. Frank Finch, Koufaxs Sore Finger Cause of Concern, Says Dodgers Bavasi,Los Angeles Times, July 10, 1962, p. B-1. But even the extraordinary Pirates-Braves game of May 26, 1959, paled in comparison with the Koufax-Hendley game. The game still holds the record for fewest base runners. He did have two home runs. Particularly in the last few innings, you knew that he knew he had the perfect game. Ive since heard a tape of that half inning: Theres not a single misstep. At one point in that visit, Campanis assumed the hitters stance in the batters box with Koufax on the mound. He received more than the normal number of birthday cards, including one from Sandy Koufax. Haddix carried a perfect game into the 13th against a most formidable Braves lineup. amzn_assoc_asins = "B074VDVW98,0062360574,1476669422,0803286902"; Sandy Koufax, Life magazine August 2, 1963 The Mostest Pitcher: Most Wins, Most Shutouts, Most Strike-outs. Click for copy. What would come the next day? . Bavasi began by meeting separately with each man. Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee catcher known for his quips and his play. "I was just getting people out. Click for card. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Even today, baseball has but one Sandy, as it has one Babe. I'm 46, and I just barely qualify. 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. In 1966, before the regular baseball season began, the Dodgers two key pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale were each scheduled to negotiate new contracts with Dodgers general manager Joseph Buzzie Bavasi. Hank Aaron, it seemed, was among the few hitters that had Koufaxs number. The Dodgers signed Koufax for a total salary and bonus package of $20,000 or roughly $170,000 in todays money. The Drysdale-Jim Bouton duel in Game 3 (a 1-0 final) was the greatest single day of pitching I've ever seen. No-Hitters, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ from the SABR BioProject, More Sandy Koufax Pages at Baseball Reference, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. In the second game of a doubleheader, Koufax faced off against the Phillies ace, Jim Bunning in a first-ever match-up between perfect-game winners. Just packed up and left in the middle of a game. Koufax Cites Pressures on Pro Athletes, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1969, p. E-12. . Advertisement (Original Caption) Sandy Koufax of the News reports called it a circulatory problem in the index finger of his left hand. Your fans will never forget. And that loss was in his only career one-hitter. In any case, to be the one best player in all three categories in a single season, whether for hitting or pitching, is a rare and distinctive honor, marking accomplished play. Rookie Status: Frank Finch, Koufax Victor, Misses Shutout in Ninth, Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1963, p. A-1. His elbow was shot full of cortisone several times a season. Trouble occurred before the game started. And Koufax did, initiating a 30-inning run during which he walked one batter. WebAces were on the mound again in a game 1 rematch between Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. Mickey Mantle was still playing then, and there were a number of other names, some just getting started, others in their prime Carl Yastrzemski, Harmon Killebrew, Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Whitey Ford, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda and others. For our purposes today, though, the dazzling Koufax is merely half the story. ", 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. . An old interview of Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax made the rounds on social media Friday. Daily Mirror/LATimes blog says this 1966 photo by Art Rodgers shows Sandy Koufax wincing in pain, but wining his 4th consecutive game, and seven for eight, May 23, 1966. ", Hendley's loss seemed quite unfair. By 1958,meanwhile, the Dodgerss organization leftBrooklyn for the promised land of Los Angeles, breaking the hearts ofmillions of New Yorkers as they went.
Is Bangkok Red Light District Safe, How Old Were The Backstreet Boys When They Started, Marlin Barnes Funeral, Perfiles Falsos Fotos, Moore Transport Delivery Receipt, Articles D