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. Koufax also tied a World Series record when he fanned the first five Yankees he faced. ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. Sabermetricians put little stock in pitchers' victories these days. In the top of the second, the Dodgers scored four runs, including a three-run home run by Roseboro. And the Angels still were barely beyond the toddler stage in 1965. A young Sandy Koufax in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform.Brooklyn Born. Koufax struck out 14 of 27 batters; Hendley struck out three. At the University of Cincinnati he became a walk-on freshman basketball player. But first baseman Joe Pepitone lost Boyer's peg in the white-shirted crowd background; the ball struck Pepitone in the arm and rolled down the right field line, allowing Gilliam to scamper all the way to third base. ", 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. American League winners of the pitching Crown in more recent years have been Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998, and Pedro Martinez of he Boston Red Sox in 1999. . Frank Finch, Koufax, Drysdale Eye $1 Million Pact, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1966, p. B-1. Sandy Koufax hit 1 solo homers, 0 with a single runner on base, 1 with two men on base, and 0 grand slams. Clemente struckout 20 times against Koufax. Sports fans around the country were saying how the Dodgers were going to blow it again. Sandy Koufax Stats by Baseball Almanac. 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). Frank Finch, Its a No-Hitter for Sandy And 9 Whiffs, Too!, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1966, p. G-1. But this pinnacle performance of pitching wouldn't be a prominent part of our past if this oft-times pedestrian pitcher had permitted one more hit in his extraordinary eight innings. On September 29, 1966, near the end of the regular season, Koufax threw a four-hitter to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1, achieving a third 300-strikeout season, the first major league pitcher to do so since Amos Rusie did it in 1890-92. I would think the last two or three innings -- that's as well as I've pitched.". PopHistoryDig.com, July 10, 2010. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; 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. It was the first game of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh. Vin Scully, 29,000 People And A Million Butter-flies, Vin Scullys radio call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufaxs 1965 perfect game, Salon.com., Tuesday, October 12, 1999. That was the only way you could hit it.. The other memory has been with me since 1982, Billy Martin's downfall season as the A's manager. Gibson fractured a bone above his right ankle and his leg was placed in a cast. over New York Yankees (A.L.). ", Hendley has regained a small measure of celebrity. I could hear it and feel it tear.. . 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. Thus began, in June of 1955,theprofessional baseball career of Sandy Koufax with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He never once fumbles for a word, makes a false start or trips over himself. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". After playing in only 12 seasons, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Actually, he would let you look at it. Michael Leahy, The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016), Harper, 496pp. Hendley, pitching for the Cubs that night in Los Angeles, warrants none of the superlatives applied above. Paul Zimmerman, Koufax Best in Baseball, Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1962, p. B-2. Article Citation: Those were the years when a number of great players roamed the fields of big league parks. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." But this, we figured, would be the ultimate: watching Mantle in our own back yard against Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax. The hard-throwing left-hander But to his and baseballs good fortune, he did not quit, but rather persevered, to become one of baseballs all-time greats. amzn_assoc_linkid = "8d4cde52eff6bfe761392f95d7780402"; Cy Young Award winner. Get well, Mick. Only two left-handers in the ensuing years through 2000 started as many games in a season. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Koufax was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. 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. Of Vin Scullys historic broadcast of the game, one Salon.com writer, Gary Kaufman, offered this description: I found a transcript of Scullys call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufaxs perfect game It read like a short story. His one-word identity spread over all of baseball. Brian M. Endsley, Koufax Throws a Curve: The Los Angeles Dodgers at the End of an Era, 1964-1966 (2018), McFarland, 215pp. Like Koufax, Hendley was betrayed by his pitching elbow and forced to retire earlier than planned. Mickey Mantle, who was called out on strikes taking a Koufax curveball, walked away muttering expletives, unhappy with his Koufax experience. Video: 2015 ASG: MLB's 'Greatest Living Players' announced. LOS ANGELES -- Vin Scully's legacy may be his calls of huge, dramatic moments -- Hank Aaron's 715th home run, Sandy Koufax's perfect game, Kirk Gibson's Koufax and Scully, of course, have a long-standing Dodger Blue relationship. Mays' home run came on Spahn's 201st pitch. "And I came out a loser. . Did Sandy Koufax ever hit a home run? ". They had Harvey Kuenn hit for me [with two out in the ninth inning]. Other pitching performance have dazzled us over the years. Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. And it came off the top of his head, at a moment when, like the man whose feat he was describing, he knew he had to be at the top of his game. Marichal had thrown 227. Ive since heard a tape of that half inning: Theres not a single misstep. Sandy Koufax, the L.A. Dodgers star pitcher, soaking his arm in a whirlpool after a game in April 1964. He received more than the normal number of birthday cards, including one from Sandy Koufax. [7]. The game is also featured in Jane Leavys 2002 biography of Koufax. Sandy was family in L.A. On October 6th, 1963, in Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, Koufax faced the Yankees a second time. Sandy Koufax Out Longer Than ExpectedFour to Six Weeks, Los Angeles Times, July 20, 1962, p. B-1. 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. As a kid, Sandy actually played more basketball than baseball, at least at first, beginning at a local Jewish Community Center and then in his senior year for the Lafayette High School basketball team. Since Koufax won his last of three Triple Crowns in 1966, there have only been four other National League pitchers who have won Triple Crowns Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972; Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets in 1985; Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002; and Jake Peavy in 2007. "What a nice man! More remarkable was that Koufax was the losing pitcher in each of the other instances. The 60th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff that matched the American League (AL) champion and two-time defending World Series champion New York Yankees against the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers; the Dodgers swept the Series in four games to secure their second championship title in five years, and their third in franchise history. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. "We both gave up two runs, we both allowed five hits. Koufax finished with just four strikeouts. 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. 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. "Early in the game, I didn't have great stuff," Koufax said afterward. He needed only to tidy up on his control that summer night in Chavez Ravine. "To be beaten by class, beaten by the guy who is one of the best, if not the best ever. "He actually sent me a card," Hendley said. 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. 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. 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. One of his two sons, Bart, lives nearby, and he enjoys baseball and embraces the advanced metrics that have emerged in the past 15 years. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 On bad days hed have to bend his neck to get his face closer to his left hand so that he could shave. 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. This series was also the first meeting between teams from New York City and Los Angeles for a major professional sports championship. And Koufax did, initiating a 30-inning run during which he walked one batter. This was a ritual for Billy -- go to Texas, see Mickey -- and the reminiscing must have been awfully good that day. Koufax Cites Pressures on Pro Athletes, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1969, p. E-12. Current Greats: 2023 MLB Batting, 2023 MLB Pitching, Career WAR Leaders, Single-Season Home Run Leaders, Active Strikeout Leaders, Upcoming Player Milestones, MLB Scores. National League Most Valuable Player of the Year in 1963. Grover Cleveland Alexander had 3 Triple Crowns, 1915, 1916 & 1920. 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. Certainly it was a historic game because in no other game did two teams combine for so few hits. 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. Though, Leavy reported, the hand injury had bothered Koufax since April (by July, the tissue was close to gangrene, she wrote), he entered the September start against St. Louis with a 14-5 record and 2.15 ERA. Frank Finch, Koufax Notches 12th Win as Dodgers Top Reds, 4-1, Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1963, p. C-1. Over the years, Hendley's appreciation of Koufax has grown. Moreover, neither pitcher had the cachet of Koufax, and Scully didn't provide the play-by-play. And the run he surrendered, in the fifth inning, was unearned. In fact, at that seasons end he threw his glove and spikes into the trash. By 1958,meanwhile, the Dodgerss organization leftBrooklyn for the promised land of Los Angeles, breaking the hearts ofmillions of New Yorkers as they went. WebKoufax only had two pitches: a 97 mph fastball that physicists denied but all facing batters said was gospel truth: the ball would suddenly hop up before crossing the plate. For our purposes today, though, the dazzling Koufax is merely half the story. Bavasi began by meeting separately with each man. It was this bad: Koufax couldnt straighten his left arm-it was curved like a parenthesis. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Robert Creamer, An Urgent Matter Of One Index Finger, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 1963. He called it "unfair territory. 1966 book Koufax by Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn. background-image:unset; Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers making a pitch, 1960s. Is that coincidence, or are we being punished (after the strike) for doing the wrong thing?". Sandy Koufax in what appears to be an impromptu locker room press conference following his no-hitter against the New York Mets of June 30, 1962. Ford set the Dodgers down in order in the first inning, but got into trouble in the second inning. "And I came out a loser. Last Update:31 December 2020 Perfect Game. Although Mantle was about to turn 32, his tortured body was ancient, and he had played just 65 games that season. Sandy Koufax about to autograph a baseball for the late TV newsman, Tim Russert, at social gathering. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Sandy Koufax went on to hold the Yankees for the final two innings for a 21 victory and the Dodgers' third world championship. James told New York Times columnist Arthur Daley the grand slam gave me the most personal satisfaction and the most surprise of any home run he hit. A young Sandy Koufax in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. In 1959, the Dodgers won the National League pennant race and beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Charles Maher, Frank Finch, Bavasi Doubts Koufax and Drysdale Will Sign, Los Angeles Times, March 23, 1966, p. B-1. After one more relief outing, Koufax got his first start, on July 6, 1955. But Koufax shut down the Yanks after that as the Dodgers won 2-1, completing a surprising four-game sweep of 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. Nothing wrong with that.". 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. !,Los Angeles Times, May 12, 1963, p. I-1. (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. Koufax finished the year with a 19-5 record. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. James hadnt hit a home run or driven in a run all month. Up 4-0, Koufax picked up where he left off, striking out Mantle and Maris, then getting Elston Howard on a foul pop up. Portion of a Topps baseball card from the 1960s featuring ERA leaders of the day. I threw the ball pretty hard, Gibson said in the video, and if I threw the ball inside to him, I couldnt get it by him. Koufax added: For me, he was the toughest out. What would come the next day? Why did Sandy Koufax walked the next batter, Gene Oliver, and was relieved by Ed Roebuck. WebOf his four no-hitters, Sandy Koufax saved his finest for last. "I was average.". As well as he was throwing and setting people down, there was very little chance of overcoming him. Particularly in the last few innings, you knew that he knew he had the perfect game. Koufax attracted the notice of at least one scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The final out came on Joe Pepitone's drive that backed Dodger right fielder Ron Fairly up against the bullpen gate to make the catch of a ball that would have been a home run in Yankee Stadium. It does not store any personal data. 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. Since 1933, it has been the summer showcase for the greatest athletes to ever play the game. I was at Koufax's perfect game in '65, and Cubs pitcher He still held his fork in his left hand, but sometimes he had to bend closer to the plate to get the food into his mouth. 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. 32, Sandy Koufax. What I dont understand is how he lost five.. Maybe Ill go back to where I came from and finish college.. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. But each was a far cry from the Koufax-Hendley confrontation. Your fans will never forget. He was the first iconic sports figure to emerge in Southern California after Major League Baseball arrived on the West Coast. His elbow was shot full of cortisone several times a season. That night in Los Angeles, hitting the ball in any direction and with any chance of success was another issue. Video: Doddgers Retired Number: No. Brent Jones has joined a distinguished group of Bay Area athletes to win the Lou Gehrig Iron Man Award. And what a great lesson that is. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. We were like Cubs fans who wouldn't go see the White Sox if you paid us. Even for a pitcher, Koufax was a weak hitter, batting just . What was the score of the Sandy Koufax game? 2 How fast did Sandy Koufax throw a baseball? Sandy Koufax started it off with a record 15-strikeout performance in Game 1 to outduel the Yankees' ace left-hander Whitey Ford. Koufaxs seasonal W-L record during that period was 25-5, 19-5, 26-8, and 27-9. Who is the real home run king? Sandy Koufax, delivering his magic from the pitching mound during the mid-1960s. They had been at Mantle's house nearby, and knowing these two, they probably hoisted their first cocktails before noon. Gary Kaufman, Vin Scully, Salon.com, Tuesday, October 12, 1999. 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). Koufax would hold that record until 1981 when Nolan Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter. But in the final game of the regular season, the Dodgers had to beat the Phillies to win the pennant. 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. He and the city were connected like JFK and Hyannisport, like Elvis and Memphis. The Koufax perfect game against the Cubs was also noted for the play-by-play call by broadcaster Vin Scully, the venerable voice of the Dodgers for more than 50 years. Kids Free All Summer, it says, with a phone number you can't read (seems the batter and umpire are in the way). To date, this is the only time the Dodgers have won the deciding game of a World Series at home. "Sandy always has been gracious toward me," he said. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. At the time Koufax was only the sixth pitcher of the modern era to throw a perfect game. Don Drysdale pitched a masterful three-hitter at Dodger Stadium in his complete-game win. And you still couldnt hit it. Pete Rose, baseballs all-time hit leader, also had trouble hitting Koufax, batting an anemic .175 against him. 1956 Topps baseball trading card for Sandy Koufax, pitcher, Brooklyn Dodgers. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. 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. Only perfection beat him. You could tell how much he wanted it. Los Angeles Times opening-day welcome to the new L.A. Dodgers, April 18, 1958. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH). Video: 2015 ASG: MLB's 'Greatest Living Players' announced. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. And that loss was in his only career one-hitter. Jack Doyle, Date Posted: 10 July 2010 The Dodgers had spotted Koufax a 4-0 lead in the first with the help of a triple by Willie Davis, singles by Tommy Davis and Frank Howard surrounding a walk, John Roseboros two-run double and a single by Larry Burright. 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. Charles Maher, LAffaire Drysdale-Koufax: Villains or Heroes?, Los Angeles Times, March 27, 1966, p. G-1. . 3. 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. He'll start screaming at you. Even today, baseball has but one Sandy, as it has one Babe. The game still holds the record for fewest base runners. WebHas anyone ever hit a 600 foot home run? Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. It prompted these words from Koufax that night: "It's a shame Hendley had to get beaten that way.". However, during this time, the commissioner of the MLB, Bowie Kuhn, and Aaron began to butt heads. "What a nice man! Frank Finch, Koufax Victor, Misses Shutout in Ninth, Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1963, p. A-1. Particularly in the last few innings, you knew that he knew he had the perfect game. However, more signs of serious arm problems followed that year for Koufax, having jammed his arm in a base-running slide. In the decades that have passed, the legend of that game has grown. Sandy Koufax in the 1960s no doubt, thinking about a strikeout. Trouble occurred before the game started. In one of the games we will get to in a minute, the two starting pitchers pitched 23+ innings, struck out 29 Larry Schwartz, Total Domination, ESPN.com. ". Burdette, who was the winning pitcher, allowed 12 hits in his complete game victory, though. The Yankees scored twice in the eighth inning when Tony Kubek singled with one out and Tom Tresh homered with two outs to cut the lead to 52. They expressed similar admiration for Aaron. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It takes a decidedly middle-aged person to call up the real Mantle, one of the three or four greatest all- around talents of all time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sandy was throwing so hard, he was coming out from under his cap. Frank Finch, Koufax Shuts Out Milwaukee, 7-0, Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1963, p. C-1. 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. In 114 career at-bats against him, Aaron hit .368, with an on-base percentage of .433. Full Site Menu. Jim Bouton, making his first World Series start, dueled Drysdale throughout, permitting only four hits in seven innings for a losing cause. 32, Sandy Koufax. Haddix carried a perfect game into the 13th against a most formidable Braves lineup. Click for copy. Koufax pitched four no-hitters, won three Cy Young Awards -- each unanimously -- struck out all comers and routinely shrunk the biggest and baddest hitters to Eddie Gaedel proportions and turned their wooden bats into paper-mache replicas. 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). In fact, things are going so right for Koufax that last Saturday in Milwaukee, one of the rare occasions when he did not pitch well, he hit a three-run homer to prevent defeat. Of the Los Angeles Dodgers' five World Series championships since the opening of Dodger Stadium, this was the only one won at Dodger Stadium. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Answer: While it is possible Koufax could hit 100 mph in his younger years, the fastest pitch he ever threw which was recorded was in the low 90s. WebSandy Koufax gave up 204 home runs in his career. Exceeded rookie limits during 1956 season, View Player Bio On Sept. 21, 1962, at St. Louis, Koufax was making his first start in more than two months. But Marichal and Spahn had surrendered eight hits each before a home run by Willie Mays ended the 16-inning, 1-0 game. Koufax struck out the side. ", Hendley's loss seemed quite unfair. His ERAs were 1.88, 1.74, 2.04 and 1.73. "This game is the most recognizable thing I've ever done in baseball," Hendley said after the game. It became the gold standard the instant Koufax struck out Harvey Kuenn for the the 27th out. 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. In that game he allowed only one run in seven innings, but the Dodgers lost, 1-0. Born: Gibson was 15-13 with a 2.85 ERA. Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax (cover story). Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He also struck out 14 batters, the most ever recorded in a perfect game.
