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. Certainly it was a historic game because in no other game did two teams combine for so few hits. What I dont understand is how he lost five.. He had started once in two months, on Sept. 2, before opposing Koufax in a ballpark where he had been mostly unsuccessful. And in the post-WWII period the more modern era of baseball Koufax would be the only guy to win three Triple Crowns for pitching (see Triple Crown sidebar below). Sorry to see the Giants join the pitiful parade of teams befouling the home-plate backstop with advertising. In a single game Mantle hit two homers that were longer than most major league players hit in a career! The connection between Koufax and the other gentleman, the pitcher who made that game perfection-plus, is long distance and infrequent. . !,Los Angeles Times, May 12, 1963, p. I-1. [1][2] Seven more such meetings have followed with three more times each in the World Series and the NBA Finals, and the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.[2]. Dan Hafner, Koufax Lost to Dodgers for Two Weeks, Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1962, p. B-1. Thanks for visiting and if you like what you find here, please make a donation to help support the research and writing at this website. Koufax, by some accounts, was neither an observant nor an involved Jew, but nonetheless, saw not playing on Yom Kippur as his responsibility. Over the years, Hendley's appreciation of Koufax has grown. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The one hit in 17 innings is impressive, but Koufax and Hendley that day pitched 17 innings, struck out 17 hitters, and allowed a run. Koufax finished with just four strikeouts. This time, it was a pitcher's duel. ", Hendley's loss seemed quite unfair. He did have two home runs. His stomach was always queasy from the cocktail of anti-inflammatories he swallowed before and after games, which he once said made him half-high on the mound. He soaked his elbow in an ice bath for 30 minutes after each game, his arm encased in an inner tube to protect against frostbite. He needed only to tidy up on his control that summer night in Chavez Ravine. Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee catcher known for his quips and his play, remarked of Koufax after watching his Game 1 performance: I can see how he won 25 games. You could tell how much he wanted it. Other pitching performance have dazzled us over the years. And Drysdale, so mean, so precise, pitched a three- hit shutout. In early 1960, Koufax asked the Dodgers to trade him because he wasnt getting enough playing time. 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. in Brooklyn, NY "In the latter part of the game, [Sandy] was awesome," Hendley said. That's how close they came to a double no-hitter evening. A NEW Mickey Mantle memory kicked in this week, replacing its evil twin. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Koufax, meanwhile,was making his first appearance since a one-inning start July 17 at Cincinnati. They expressed similar admiration for Aaron. There was no success to be had on Sept. 9 that year, despite his brilliant pitching; strange because the Cubs pitcher often prospered when he opposed Koufax. And even then his arm would swell an inch. "And I came out a loser. NL Los Angeles Dodgers (4) vs. AL New York Yankees (0). Video: 9/9/65 [emailprotected]: Koufax fans 14 in perfect game. . On the Dodgers, along with Koufax, were other notables, not the least of whom was Don Drysdale, the other Dodger power pitcher from the mid-1960s. 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. "He actually sent me a card," Hendley said. Even for a pitcher, Koufax was a weak hitter, batting just . 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. Despite injuries that limited Mickey Mantle to just 65 games, the Yankees went 10457 to win their fourth straight American League pennantthis one by 10+12 games. He received more than the normal number of birthday cards, including one from Sandy Koufax. That night in Los Angeles, hitting the ball in any direction and with any chance of success was another issue. Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax: A Leftys Legacy, New York: Harper-Collins, 2002. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Marichal had thrown 227. Sandy Koufax baseball stats, biographical data, history, trivia, and research by Baseball Almanac. Koufax struck out 14 of 27 batters; Hendley struck out three. 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. We were like Cubs fans who wouldn't go see the White Sox if you paid us. Tom Verducci,The Left Arm Of God, Sports Illustrated, July 12, 1999. 1 Hero, Life, August 2, 1963, pp. Big D, Koufax Losing Support, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1966, p. B-2. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. Hendley beat him three times and lost but once. Koufax pitched two relief innings in Game 1 of that series and started Game 5 at the Los Angeles Coliseum before more than 92,000 fans. By May 11th, 1963, Koufax was is very good form. That night in Los Angeles, hitting the ball in any direction and with any chance of success was another issue. Sandy Koufax 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. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; James swung and launched a shot onto the pavilion roof in right for a grand slam. Bruce Jenkins has written for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1973 and has been a sports columnist since 1989. For Martin, it nearly became more important than the ballgame. Former professional baseball player Sandy Koufax began his career in 1955 when he was signed by his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers. He had also thought about going into the electronics business. But even the extraordinary Pirates-Braves game of May 26, 1959, paled in comparison with the Koufax-Hendley game. 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. 1957 Topps card, Sandy Koufax, Brooklyn Dodgers. Dodgers starting pitchers Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres, and ace reliever Ron Perranoski combined to give up only four runs in four games. 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. Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers making a pitch, 1960s. At the time, many thought that Sandy Koufax was the best pitcher of his era. However, more signs of serious arm problems followed that year for Koufax, having jammed his arm in a base-running slide. RHP Tom Seaver. WebSandy Koufax Edition - Baseball Roundtable Braves right-handed pitcher (and 1957 World Series hero, Lew Burdette hit as many home runs and drove in as many runs off Sandy Did "I was average.". No estimate has ever been given for its length, although it is safe to say it was easily over 500 feet, and may have approached 600 feet. Frank Finch, Koufax Shuts Out Milwaukee, 7-0, Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1963, p. C-1. He clinched the pennant for Los Angeles for the second straight year with a complete game on two days rest. Born: Even Wilt, Whitey and Yogi seldom were identified in their city's newspaper reports in such an informal manner. Campanislater remarked: 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 first time I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball.. }, Cronkite School at ASU I'm 46, and I just barely qualify. Frank Finch, Koufaxs Sore Finger Cause of Concern, Says Dodgers Bavasi,Los Angeles Times, July 10, 1962, p. B-1. Grover Cleveland Alexander had 3 Triple Crowns, 1915, 1916 & 1920. One to tie, two to win. In 2007, Koufax was drafted by the We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." The 15 strikeouts bested fellow Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine's mark in 1953 by one, and would be surpassed by Bob Gibson in 1968 with 17. And Sandy needed to be perfect to gain that one victory. By 1965, he had almost unmatched cachet throughout the game. The Cardinals right-hander had lost his last four consecutive decisions and was looking to finish on a high note in his final three starts of the 1962 season, beginning with the Friday night game against the Dodgers. Los Angeles Times opening-day welcome to the new L.A. Dodgers, April 18, 1958. But in the seventh inning of that game, Mantle homered into the left-field pavilion to tie the game, 1-1. 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. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Sandy Koufax after pitching his 4th career no-hitter, also a perfect game, Sept 9th, 1965. When the award was given to Koufax at a luncheon in New York City, he was presented with a new carwhile the luncheon was taking place, a New York City police officer put a parking violation ticket on the car's windshield. WebIn 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. The Dodgers signed Koufax for a total salary and bonus package of $20,000 or roughly $170,000 in todays money. 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. 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. 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 a mutual respect is evident between Hendley and the master. Koufax played his entire career with the Dodgers organization, from Brooklyn, New York through Los Angeles, California,1955 to1966. Koufaxs seasonal W-L record during that period was 25-5, 19-5, 26-8, and 27-9. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. And he remains as splendid a human being as any who has graced the planet -- courteous, caring, generous and unassuming. Nothing wrong with that.". All rights reserved. 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. At an age when he should be acting like one of the game's respected veterans, Tony Phillips has become the biggest hothead in baseball. Only perfection beat him. 196 against him with three home runs, nine RBI, 16 walks and 30 strikeouts (in 33 games). Sandy Koufax Greatest Baseball Pitcher Ever And Bob Gibson vs. Sandy Koufax: Grand game for Charlie James I would think the last two or three innings -- that's as well as I've pitched.". Sandy Koufax about to autograph a baseball for the late TV newsman, Tim Russert, at social gathering. Robert Creamer, An Urgent Matter Of One Index Finger, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 1963. . 097 in his career. Koufax was routinely identified in Los Angeles newspapers as Sandy, no surname necessary. Yogi Berra Finally Gets the Credit He Deserves - MSN Artist's sketch of Sandy Koufax on the April 1964 cover of Sports Illustrateds baseball issue. Who Is Sandy Koufax? Manager Walter Alston called Drysdale's performance "one of the greatest pitched games I ever saw." I was merely trying to meet the ball and was astonished to see it land on the roof in right field, James said. Koufax, a Jew, refused to pitch. WebSandy Koufax hit 2 home runs during his career, 0 while playing at home, 2 while on the road. The results clearly suggested that. "I was just getting people out. He walked He also threw 11 shutouts, a total that only Bob Gibson would later surpass. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. ", 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. Koufax ended up pitching two complete game shutouts in Games 5 and 7 of that World Series, with the Dodgers taking the Series, four games to three. 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.. Even for a pitcher, Koufax was a weak hitter, batting just . Pitcher Carl Erskine is shown in his Brooklyn uniform. Video: 2015 ASG: MLB's 'Greatest Living Players' announced. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. Among Hendley's victories was a four-hitter, a 2-1 Cubs victory at Wrigley Field, against the Dodgers -- and Koufax -- six days after the perfect game. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In a 12-year big-league career, Koufax yielded 204 home runs, including six grand slams. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Sabermetricians put little stock in pitchers' victories these days. L.A. Dodgers Sandy Koufax and John Roseboro celebrate on the field in L.A. after beating the Yankees to clinch the World Series, October 6,1963. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. But to his and baseballs good fortune, he did not quit, but rather persevered, to become one of baseballs all-time greats. amzn_assoc_title = "Related Reading"; The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And that's as far as it went. Larry Schwartz, Koufaxs Dominance Was Short But Sweet, ESPN.com. His column ended thusly: "Today he turns 75. He struck out his final six batters and eight of the final 10. But the losing pitcher in each of the seven instances surrendered at least two more hits than Hendley. Sandy Koufax Career highlight stats. I could hear it and feel it tear.. 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 News reports called it a circulatory problem in the index finger of his left hand. 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. Don Zimmer just staged the greatest retirement in memory. Koufax, meanwhile, was perfect no runs, no hits, no walks. Michael Leahy, The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016), Harper, 496pp. 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. 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. ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. You could tell how much he wanted it. Gibson broke his leg before the game and Koufax was knocked out without completing an inning. Dan Quisenberry was certain of the game's inequities, based on the layout of the field. It shows Mantle homering off Sandy Koufax, and in these difficult times for the Yankee great, it's the one I'd prefer to keep. The next delivery was high and away. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He struck out his final six batters and eight of the final 10. Switch teams or you have no chance. Sandy Koufax Society for American Baseball Research To date, this is the only time the Dodgers have won the deciding game of a World Series at home. ", 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. Koufaxs nearly perfect in no-hitter vs. Giants WebHas anyone ever hit a 600 foot home run? ", Hendley has regained a small measure of celebrity. Steph Curry killed off the Kings with a smile, On an island of resorts, this Hawaii hotel is the budget option, 11 gadgets to boost your WFH productivity. Data Provided By . Photo, Ben Olender / L.A. Times. He told Life reporter Tommy Thompson: I want to enjoy all this while it lasts. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Paul Richards, who managed ball clubs in both leagues, said of Koufax, This man has a sense of responsibility beyond gain and glory. Once in1966 whena television network offered him $25,000 to allow their cameras to follow him around, Koufax agreedto do it for $35,000, and then only if the money was divided so that every Dodger player, coach, and trainer received $1,000. But two Dodgers managed to reach base, and one scored. The Dodgers' lone hit came two innings later when Lou Johnson's opposite-field bloop landed just beyond first base and rolled into foul ground for a double. Actually, he would let you look at it. James Lincoln Ray, Important Facts About Sandy Koufax: Dodgers Ace May Have Been Baseballs Best Lefthanded Pitcher, Suite 101.com., June 12, 2008. Podres delivered a six-hitter through 8+13 innings; ace reliever Ron Perranoski, also a left-hander, got the last two outs and the save, and the Dodgers headed home with 20 Series lead. 32 -- like Joe D. in New York and Johnny U. in Baltimore. Everyone knew he was pitching with traumatic arthritis in his left elbow, but how bad could it be when he pitched like that? Phoenix, AZ 85004 ), Video: 50 Greatest Moments: #2 Koufax's perfect game, "We pitched against each other twice in six days," Hendley recalls. Or write about sports? On August 21, the Dodgers beat the Cardinals 21 in 16 innings to take a 7+12 game lead. A 1955 Sandy Koufax rookie year card by the Topps card company, said to be a desirable card among collectors. And Koufax did, initiating a 30-inning run during which he walked one batter. 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. Frankie Frisch, Jim Gilliam, John Podres, and Sandy Koufax with 4 World Series wins each.Frisch won the World Series with the 1921 and 1922 New York Giants The Untold Truth Of Hank Aaron Bavasi began by meeting separately with each man. Sandy Koufax Since then, no left-hander has had more wins in a season nor a lower ERA (Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton had 27 wins in 1972). Martin showed up about 15 minutes before a game in Arlington, Texas, one night, a particularly embarrassing scene because the players were goofing around like kids with a substitute teacher, and coach Jackie Moore, fearing Billy might not make it at all, had assumed tenuous control of the club. 1 hero and its most attractive bachelor.In one photo he was shown in a swimming pool with a girlfriend; in another, signing autographs at a department store. More remarkable was that Koufax was the losing pitcher in each of the other instances. Koufax had pitched in Brooklyn, but he never performed in the borough where he'd been raised as he did in Los Angeles. 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 Koufaxs Perfect Game, Wikipedia.org. Did Sandy Koufax Ever Hit A Home Run | StatMuse But Koufax shut down the Yanks after that as the Dodgers won 2-1, completing a surprising four-game sweep of amzn_assoc_title = "Related Reading"; Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. As of mid-year 2010, Sandy Koufax was still active, appearing for example, at the May 27, 2010 White House reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month where he greeted President Obama who later joked with the audience that he and Sandy had something in common: We are both lefties, said the President. Legendary Dodgers lefty Sandy Koufax chose not to start Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar -- and he became an even greater hero to fans. The other Sandys -- Amoros, Valdespino, Alomar and Alomar Jr., Leon, Martinez, Alderson, Johnson and Consuegra -- are relegated to identification by surname. Sandy Koufax at work, Game 7, `65 World Series. Hank Aaron, it seemed, was among the few hitters that had Koufaxs number. Koufax sought to rest more and not throw as much between starts. Last Update:31 December 2020 (Voted by BBWAA on 344/396 ballots) SF tourists go in droves to In-N-Out. amzn_assoc_linkid = "8c083521b8631f9e22b58f0cb91ed1bc"; Thus began, in June of 1955,theprofessional baseball career of Sandy Koufax with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also struck out 14 batters, the most ever recorded in a perfect game. He cant pitch on Yom Kippur [and] I cant pitch., Sandy would strike me out two or three times a game, said Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants. The bounces that footballs take are far less fickle than the bounces and ricochets that allow the most challenged baseball teams to beat the best. Runnels the Slugger Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee catcher known for his quips and his play. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1966 and UC Berkeley with a B.A. Now 76 and 15 years into his retirement from teaching, Hendley still lives in the Macon area, where he coached high school baseball, with his wife Runette. In a six-year big-league career, James hit 29 home runs. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer. Edward Gruvers April 2000 book, Koufax, 288pp. Their only six confrontations occurred in the first four seasons of a five-season sequence, 1962-66, when Koufax was at the peak of his career. ", Hendley added to his description of the game last winter. To make room for him, the Dodgers optioned their future Hall of Fame manager, Tommy Lasorda, to the Montreal Royals of the International League. Koufaxs career spanned a period from 1955 to 1966 from the end of the Brooklyn Dodgers era in New York, to their early years in Los Angeles. Dick Groat, eight-time MLB All-Star and two-sport hall of famer in We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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 gave up two runs, we both allowed five hits. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Burdette, who was the winning pitcher, allowed 12 hits in his complete game victory, though. "I was average.". The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Jim Bouton, making his first World Series start, dueled Drysdale throughout, permitting only four hits in seven innings for a losing cause. Sandy Koufax - Baseball-Reference.com 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. ". Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers | Leave a Comment. Seldom has a person & pitcher pairing produced such excellence on both sides of the ampersand. "I was just getting people out. Koufax wasnt as sharp as he would be in later no-hitters, walking five and narrowly escaping trouble several times. Clete Boyer was the only Yankees regular not to strike out. Sandy Koufax & Mickey Mantle The Dodgers' road to the World Series was much more challenging. The 1963 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1963 season. 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. 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. Koufax homered off 2 different pitchers during his career, He had to have a tailor shorten the left sleeve on all his coats. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Happy birthday, coach Hendley. Gary Kaufman, Vin Scully, Salon.com, Tuesday, October 12, 1999. Koufax finished the year with a 19-5 record. This series was also the first meeting between teams from New York City and Los Angeles for a major professional sports championship. Jack Doyle, Date Posted: 10 July 2010 32, Sandy Koufax. 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. Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. Koufax Peddles His Biography for Tidy Advance of $110,000, Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1966, p. A-1. They shouldn't bother. Also, of the seven championships from the Dodgers franchise, it remains the only one won at home. 32, Sandy Koufax. The Dodgers faltered that season, going 80 and 82 for the year, finishing sixth in the ten-team National League.
