They were married for 13 years. When the time came to talk, Passan said it was the most nervous hes ever been for an interview. On two days rest, Koufax pitched a 6-3 complete-game victory to clinch the pennant. On July 20 he hit the second and last home run of his career, coincidentally again in Milwaukee, a three-run shot to propel the team to a 5-4 win; it was his only game with three runs batted in. Most of his love for basketball can be attributed to the fact that Sandy was much taller than most of his classmates and teammates, which ensured a great career in the game. Facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Koufax struck out 13 while pitching his first complete game in almost two years. "[28], Koufax's first start was on July 6. So now we have a request. 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He has since worked for the Dodgers organization in a variety of capacities. After winning the second game of the series, the Dodgers blew a 42 lead in the ninth inning of the deciding third game, losing the pennant. [123][124], Before the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati, Koufax was introduced as one of the four best living players (as selected by fans), along with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Johnny Bench. He was also named the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1963, and was runner-up for the award the other two years. He was Mr. Koufax, Passan told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the pitcher he once wrote a paper about for Hebrew school. Laurie recognized that Koufax might be able to pitch, and recruited the 17-year-old to pitch for the Coney Island Sports League's Parkviews. [65][66] 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. 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He resigned in 1990, saying he was not earning his keep, but most observers blamed it on his uneasy relationship with manager Tommy Lasorda. [6] Drysdale pitched the opener, but was hit hard by the Minnesota Twins. In the first inning of that game he struck out all three batters on nine total pitches to become the sixth recorded National League pitcher and the 11th recorded pitcher in major league history to accomplish an immaculate inning. Teammate Joe Pignatano said that as soon as Koufax threw a couple of balls in a row, Alston would signal for a replacement to start warming up in the bullpen. In 1960 Koufax was a 36-40 pitcher beset by accuracy problems. Find your Sandy Koufax. [15] In his only season, Koufax went 31 with a 2.81 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 30 walks in 32 innings. 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. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. [35], To prepare for the 1957 season, the Dodgers sent Koufax to Puerto Rico to play winter ball. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. I wish I had. His performance did not match his full potential. In the second game of a doubleheader, Koufax faced Jim Bunning for the second time that season,[90] in a match-up between perfect game winners. Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. . Passan has some theories. Allen, who was thrown out trying to steal second, was the only Phillie to reach base that day. [29] 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. Somehow, his school baseball team had also recruited him by then. "[68] In Game 4, Koufax completed the Dodgers' series sweep with a 21 victory over Ford, clinching the Series MVP Award for his performance. JTA For tuned-in baseball fans, Jeff Passan is everywhere. Only St. Louis Cardinal Bob Gibson, with 13 in his iconic 1968 season,[63] "the year of the pitcher", has thrown more.[64]. If you are growing up and you want to be a rabbi, thats wonderful. Ruttman, "Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman". To make matters worse for him, he was plagued with injuries throughout the next few seasons. Please try again or choose an option below. In April 1966, Kerlan told Koufax it was time to retire and that his arm could not take another season. By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. "[24] The Dodgers signed Koufax for a $6,000 ($61,000 today) salary, with a $14,000 ($141,000 today) signing bonus. His parents, Jack Braun and Evelyn, divorced when Sandy was three years old. Koufax with the Los Angeles Dodgers, c. 1965, Major League Baseball pitchers who have won the, Baseball Anecdotes by Daniel Okrent and Steve Wulf, Harper and Row Publishers, 1989, The play-by-play data from which these averages were calculated are only available starting in 1957. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. Unfortunately, the school systems around his locality were not too keen on offering sports facilities. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. The lefty won three Cy Young Awards, threw four no-hitters and was 165-87 in a 12-year career with Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Koufax later said, "I had nothing at all." Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family and was raised in Borough Park. In May 2010, he was invited to become a part of 'Jewish American Heritage Month' celebrations at 'The White House.' In 1969, Sandy Koufax married Anne Widmark, daughter of Hollywood actor Richard Widmark. Sandy Koufax is a devout Jew and is known as one of the most famous Jewish players to have graced the American sports scene. In his 12-season major league career, Koufax had a 16587 record with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. In Koufax's first no-hitter, he struck out 13, including the side on nine pitches in the first inning. [50] In the first game he faced only one batter, giving up a hit to Al Kaline in the ninth inning. Who Is Sandy Koufax's Wife? He said he considers himself a cultural Jew noting that his wife is Catholic and they are raising their kids without religion. Instead, Koufax made a living on a baseball diamond, becoming one of the most dominating left-handers of all time. The duo had no children together. While baseball was something he ardently loved, Sandy was more inclined toward basketball during his days in Lafayette High School in Brooklyn. He also took Butazolidin for inflammation, applied capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment (also sold by the brand name "Atomic Balm") before each game, and soaked his arm in a tub of ice afterwards. He appeared in two All-Star games too, for the first time in his career. Its a cultural team. 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. [107] He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. What I don't understand is how he lost five,"[67] to which Dodger shortstop Maury Wills responded, "He didn't. Passan said he and his family celebrate Hanukkah hes a big fan of latkes and he fasts on Yom Kippur. He also won three Cy Young Awards, one each for the years 1963, 1965, and 1966. [36] 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.[37][38][39][40][41]. In 1972, at the age of 36, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and became the youngest player ever to have received the honor. 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They were married until 9th December 1998 when they got divorced. After the last game of the season, he threw his gloves and spikes into the trash. [121], In 1990 Koufax was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Koufax was an immediate beneficiary of the change, lowering his ERA at home from 4.29 to 1.75. As Koufax biographer, Jane Leavey, writes: Koufax was almost ready to bloom. The Dodgers won the pennant, and Koufax won the first of three pitchers' Triple Crowns, leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (306) and ERA (1.88). With an overworked pitching staff there was no one else, as Drysdale and Johnny Podres had pitched the prior two days. Teammate Ed Palmquist missed the flight, so Koufax was told he would need to pitch at least seven innings. He would go on to cover sports at Syracuse University, the Fresno Bee, the Kansas City Star, Yahoo! Sports and, since 2019, at ESPN. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It takes just a few seconds. Sandy Koufax Age Koufax is 84 years of age as of 2020, he was born on December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. After joining the major leagues at age 19, having never pitched a game in the minor leagues, the first half of his career was unremarkable, posting a record of just 3640 with a 4.10 earned run average (ERA); he was a member of World Series champions in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, though he did not appear in any of the team's Series wins. He was knocked out in the second inning, after giving up home runs to future Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Jim Davenport. After two decades of reporting, can anything make him nervous? Born Sanford Braun on 30th December, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, he is famous for Three-time Cy Young Award winner. When it comes to peak value for a pitcher, few in major league history could match Sandy Koufax. Meanwhile, the Dodgers waged a public relations battle against them. Change the world. He struck out 14 batters in the 10 win, at the time the most recorded in a perfect game (tied by Matt Cain in 2012). Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first time anyone had won the belt more than once. He is also notable for being one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in U.S. 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 religious calling and society, and remains a notable event in U.S. Jewish history. After seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, Yankee Yogi Berra said, "I can see how he won 25 games. In 1999, he was named as one of the 30 players of the MLB All-Century Team., Spouse/Ex-: Jane Purucker Clarke, Anne Koufax (m. 19691982), Kimberly Francis (m. 19851998), Notable Alumni: Columbia University School Of General Studies, University Of Cincinnati, education: University Of Cincinnati, Columbia University School Of General Studies, awards: Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, See the events in life of Sandy Koufax in Chronological Order, (One of the Greatest Pitchers in Baseball History), https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/koufax-first-to-record-two-perfect-innings-in-nl, https://www.downthedrive.com/2015/8/22/9169681/from-the-video-vault-sandy-koufax-at-his-longest-lithest-and-louchest, https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/08/29/sandy-koufax-dodgers-left-arm-god-si-60. This contains his possessions, funds, and earnings. 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He also received the MVP honor once and three Triple Crowns, one each for the years 1963, 1965, and 1966. [79][114] The Dodgers again hired Koufax in 2013 as a special advisor to team chairman Mark Walter to work with the pitchers during spring training and consult during the season. He does not have any children. "It's been 41 years between starts for him. Eventually, medication and other therapies helped him overcome his injuries. Koufax declined the offer. [60], On May 11 Koufax no-hit the Giants 80, besting Marichalhimself a no-hit pitcher on June 15. Kimberly Francis became Sandy Koufax's wife after they dated for 2 years after getting together in 1983. For the first time in his career, he was in the starting rotation, but only for two weeks. After the final out of Game 7, Koufax drove to Columbia to attend class. In 1960, he wanted to quit the Dodgers to play on the field but was not freed from the contract. Its something that can be passed on from fathers and mothers to sons and daughters, he said. Koufax agreed not to throw at all between gamesa resolution that lasted only one start. Sandy presently lives with his third wife, Jane Purucker Clarke. To make room for him, the Dodgers optioned their future Hall of Fame manager, Tommy Lasorda, to the Montreal Royals of the International League. Sandy Koufax, the greatest left-handed pitcher in major league baseball history, was a bust the first half of his pro career. His stomach and digestive tract were bleeding from cortisone shots and painkillers. In May 2010, he was invited to become a part of Jewish American Heritage Month celebrations at The White House.. Sandy Koufax's estimated net worth is roughly $10 million as of 2022, which he has earned as a baseball player. He had a single-season record for 382 strikeouts in a year. Koufax kept Kerlan's advice to himself and went out every fourth day to pitch. [11] Koufax attended Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, where he was better known for basketball than for baseball. However, this could not deter the sportsman in him. However, his position on the team did not improve, and neither did his performance. Throughout his career, Koufax relied heavily on two pitches. While watching the Burns baseball documentary, I was reminded of the short and spectacular career of Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodger pitcher, Sandy Koufax, the greatest left-hander in history. Thats why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. When throwing a fastball with baserunners, his hand position in the stretch would be higher than when he threw a curveball. Batters could wait him out. Less than six weeks after the series, on Friday, November 18,[96][97] Koufax announced his retirement due to an arthritic elbow. See. Coach them, encourage them. But after making adjustments prior to the 1961 season, and benefitting from the team's move into expansive Dodger Stadium a year later, Koufax quickly rose to become the most dominant pitcher in the major leagues before arthritis in his left elbow ended his playing days prematurely at age 30. [44], Koufax tried one more year of baseball, showing up for the 1961 season in better condition than he ever had before. Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield opened her Riverdale home to a family of Ukrainian refugees. 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." Its a team thats often based around your religion or the religion in your family, and I think that makes it a unique group of players who may not have that same connection or that same feel to Israel, but they have that shared experience of being Jewish and knowing what that entails.. Lasorda would later joke that it took Koufax to keep him off the Dodger pitching staff. The way that he represented himself, the way he honored Judaism, and, when it was an incredibly difficult thing, stuck by what mattered to him, I think thats applicable across religions, across cultures, across backgrounds, Passan said. As Jane Leavey writes: Koufax finished the game, throwing a no-hitter. The performance earned him his second World Series MVP award, making him the first player to win the award twice. Ive watched Roger Bannister break the four-minute mile at the Iffley Road track, Oxford, England, on May 6th, 1954. Then in 1961 and through 1962, a different Koufax emerged. Thats what has worked in the past. He had two wins in 1955, which were both shutouts. He had not yet completed a full inning in a game, and had pitched only in 58.7 innings, which had him scoring 30 strikeouts and 29 walks. Courtney Maybin MLB Cameron Maybins Wife. Sandy struggled to manage the control of his pitches, but his pace was good enough, which helped him survive in the team. So as Passan began work on his book, he knew he needed to talk to Koufax. He was raised in Borough Park, in a Jewish family. 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On March 31, the morning after pitching a complete spring training game, Koufax awoke to find that his entire left arm was black and blue from hemorrhaging. The next few seasons were quite average for him. Ive watched Bob Hayes, historys best sprinter not named Usain Bolt, anchor the U.S.As 4 x 100 meters team in 1964, taking the baton in sixth place and passing everyone for the win. Phone: 602.496.1460 To get himself through the games he pitched, Koufax resorted to Empirin with codeine for the pain, which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning. His primary source of income is his work as a baseball pitcher. [111][112], The Dodgers hired Koufax to be a minor league pitching coach in 1979. On a baseball pitcher for 2 years after getting together in 1983 recruited 17-year-old... Was good enough, which were both shutouts might be able to pitch, and the! Won the Belt more than once family and was raised in Borough Park in! 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