Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn, Sandy Koufax, New York: Viking Press, August 30, 1966, 299 pp. No one has won a Triple Crown in National League hitting since 1937 when Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals last did it. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He ended up pitching 323 innings that year, finishing with a 27-9 record. He called it "unfair territory. What was the score of the Sandy Koufax game? The hard-throwing left-hander ", 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. You could tell how much he wanted it. 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. Sandy Koufax makes final pitch of 63 World Series. (FYI: The lone run Hendley allowed in that one was driven in by the man who pinch-hit for Koufax in the seventh inning -- Don Drysdale. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. 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. "Sandy always has been gracious toward me," he said. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. "I was standing on the top step of the dugout, at the end. James swung and launched a shot onto the pavilion roof in right for a grand slam. His spontaneous account of the game was comparable to what he had witnessed. He told Life reporter Tommy Thompson: I want to enjoy all this while it lasts. amzn_assoc_title = "Related Reading"; Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers | Leave a Comment. Sandy Koufax, spring training, Vero Beach, Florida, February 28, 1963. "To be beaten by class, beaten by the guy who is one of the best, if not the best ever. WebHow fast did Sandy Koufax throw? And one game for the ages, albeit a loss. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; I was merely trying to meet the ball and was astonished to see it land on the roof in right field, James said. 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. The next delivery was high and away. Dusty Baker on the unsettling rash of baseball injuries: "First Ken Griffey, then Matt Williams, the two guys who were going after Roger Maris last year. Viking; 1st edition; 299 pp. (Age 30-276d) Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Even Wilt, Whitey and Yogi seldom were identified in their city's newspaper reports in such an informal manner. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Thus began, in June of 1955,theprofessional baseball career of Sandy Koufax with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Roscoe McGowen, Brooklyn-Bred Bonus Baby Is Coming of Age; Koufax 2-Hitter in 2d Start Is Sign of Maturity; Dodgers Are Getting Return on Money Paid to Hurler, New York Times, August 29, 1955. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. But two Dodgers managed to reach base, and one scored. "Early in the game, I didn't have great stuff," Koufax said afterward. 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. WebThe youngest man ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sandy Koufax, was no different. The big league game has given us 22 other perfectos, 15 since Koufax produced his. On October 6th, 1963, in Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, Koufax faced the Yankees a second time. Thank you. Video: Doddgers Retired Number: No. Koufax and Drysdale Sign Pactsas Movie Actors, Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1966, p. B-1. He lasted just 4 innings. 54-56. And on the worst days he had to shave with his right hand. 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). And seven of the 22, including Koufax's, have been decided by 1-0 scores. And Sandy needed to be perfect to gain that one victory. 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. All rights reserved. Sabermetricians put little stock in pitchers' victories these days. By May 11th, 1963, Koufax was is very good form. Bruce Jenkins has written for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1973 and has been a sports columnist since 1989. 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). Trouble was, said Brock, with Koufax on the mound, nobody got on base too often., To find more sports stories at this website, please visit the Annals of Sport category page, or Baseball Stories, a topics page with thumbnail sketches and links to 14 other baseball stories. Boxscore. Who has the most NL Gold Glove awards? However, the scouts glowing report on the young pitcher was reportedly lost in the Dodger front-office. It prompted these words from Koufax that night: "It's a shame Hendley had to get beaten that way.". They shouldn't bother. His 2,396 career strikeouts at retirement in 1966 ranked 7th best all-time. A young Sandy Koufax in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." The incident garnered national attention as an example of conflict between social pressures and personal beliefs. vs. PHI 9.0 IP, 7 H, 10 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER, W. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1972. We both retired early [Hendley at 28, Koufax at 30], we both had elbow problems." 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. Change). In 114 career at-bats against him, Aaron hit .368, with an on-base percentage of .433. Hendley, left-handed and born in Macon, Ga., pitched in the big leagues for seven seasons, three with the Milwaukee Braves, 1 1/2 with the Giants and two-plus with the Cubs before ending his career with the Mets in 1967. For Martin, it nearly became more important than the ballgame. Photo, Ben Olender / L.A. Times. 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. Mickey Mantle, Tom Tresh and Tony Kubek each struck out twice, and Bobby Richardson struck out three timeshis only three-strikeout game in 1448 regular season or World Series games. And the run he surrendered, in the fifth inning, was unearned. (LogOut/ He'll start screaming at you. 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. . 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. It sounded just like a twig snapping, Gibson told The Sporting News. Return to Top; Major League Players. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. And Drysdale, so mean, so precise, pitched a three- hit shutout. 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 He needed only to tidy up on his control that summer night in Chavez Ravine. 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. Sandy Koufax about to autograph a baseball for the late TV newsman, Tim Russert, at social gathering. On that night, Sept. 9, 1965, with both pitchers and Scully at their bests, Hendley was nearly the equal of Koufax. His column ended thusly: "Today he turns 75. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. background-image:unset; Frank Finch, Its a No-Hitter for Sandy And 9 Whiffs, Too!, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1966, p. G-1. 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. Greenwald doesn't do TV because he feels, correctly, that radio is the purest broadcaster's medium. ", "Hitting would be a lot more rewarding," Quiz reasoned, "if you could hit the ball in any direction. Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. 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. Koufax walked the next batter, Gene Oliver, and was relieved by Ed Roebuck. 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. And Koufax did, initiating a 30-inning run during which he walked one batter. Koufax was as magnificent a pitcher as any who ever has stood on a big league mound. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. This was a ritual for Billy -- go to Texas, see Mickey -- and the reminiscing must have been awfully good that day. He struck out his final six batters and eight of the final 10. This could be another tale of the astounding exploits of Sandy Koufax, one more of so many; and each one warranted. Edward Gruvers April 2000 book, Koufax, 288pp. He also threw 11 shutouts, a total that only Bob Gibson would later surpass. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; What would come the next day? Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Moreover, neither pitcher had the cachet of Koufax, and Scully didn't provide the play-by-play. In the top of the second, the Dodgers scored four runs, including a three-run home run by Roseboro. The hard-throwing left-hander was the most dominant pitcher in baseball until elbow arthritis forced an early retirement at age 30. Who has the highest batting average against Bob Gibson? Frank Finch, Koufax Blanks Giants on 4 Hits, 2-0, Los Angeles Times, June 18, 1963, p. C-1. Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee catcher known for his quips and his play. Dodger team physician Robert Kerlan diagnosed him with traumatic arthritis. Ever so slightly flawed by Johnson' flare, the Hendley-Koufax game need not be bronzed. Sandy Koufax Out Longer Than ExpectedFour to Six Weeks, Los Angeles Times, July 20, 1962, p. B-1. As well as he was throwing and setting people down, there was very little chance of overcoming him. Sandy attended Brooklyns Lafayette High School, but sports were not played there for a few years due to a teachers dispute. in journalistic studies in 1971. 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. Phoenix, AZ 85004 The Dodgers left-hander had been sidelined because of an injured pitching hand. Paul Zimmerman, Koufax Best in Baseball, Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1962, p. B-2. 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. ", 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. After going 8-13 that year, Koufax thought about quitting. "He was great," Hendley said. Video: 2015 ASG: MLB's 'Greatest Living Players' announced. The Yankees batted just .171 and scored only four runs in the Series, with Koufax being a primary factor, receiving the World Series MVP award. And you still couldnt hit it. Pete Rose, baseballs all-time hit leader, also had trouble hitting Koufax, batting an anemic .175 against him. WebSandy Koufax hit 2 home runs during his career, 0 while playing at home, 2 while on the road. And what a great lesson that is. Koufax only missed a perfect game that day by walkingtwo batters: Ed Bailey in the eighth inning, and an intentional walk to Willie McCovey in the ninth. But even the extraordinary Pirates-Braves game of May 26, 1959, paled in comparison with the Koufax-Hendley game. Sandy Koufax on Friday avenged the previous Sundays loss in Houston by striking out 14 Colt .45s in a shutout win at Dodger Stadium. amzn_assoc_linkid = "8d4cde52eff6bfe761392f95d7780402"; 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. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. They expressed similar admiration for Aaron. Who Is Sandy Koufax? Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Koufax was as magnificent a pitcher as any who ever has stood on a big league mound. By the way, Hendley allowed just one walk. background-color:#ba3434; Frank Finch, Sandy Koufax Hurls No-Hit, 5-0 Win, Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1962, p E-1. Video: 2015 ASG: MLB's 'Greatest Living Players' announced. His one-word identity spread over all of baseball. 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. I would think the last two or three innings -- that's as well as I've pitched.". How fast did Sandy Koufax throw a baseball? . Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. The momentum he created for himself brought out the best in Scully and a powerful sense of resignation for Hendley. 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. The dominance of the Dodgers pitchers was so complete that at no point in any of the four games did the Yankees have the lead. At Lafayette High, he became team captain and ranked second in division scoring. 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. What made the game such a seductive piece of history was, of course, Koufax's involvement. Though a perfect game is a rarity, that Koufax pitched one in 1965 hardly was startling. . With the count 2-and-2, Koufax was a strike away from getting out of the jam. Cy Young Award winner. I was at Koufax's perfect game in '65, and Cubs pitcher Artist's sketch of Sandy Koufax on the April 1964 cover of Sports Illustrateds baseball issue. 2 How fast did Sandy Koufax throw a baseball? 097 in his career. Jack Doyle, Date Posted: 10 July 2010 amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; It was the first time since 1924 that both leagues had pitching Triple Crown winners in the same season. Did Sandy Koufax ever hit a home run? ", "Hitting would be a lot more rewarding," Quiz reasoned, "if you could hit the ball in any direction. WebAces were on the mound again in a game 1 rematch between Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. Tony Kubek had two of the Yankees' three hits, but none of the hits were extra-base hits. Nothing wrong with that.". Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He was a good- size kid,standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing about 200-pounds. The St. Louis Cardinals took the pennant and beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To date, this is the only time the Dodgers have won the deciding game of a World Series at home. It became the gold standard the instant Koufax struck out Harvey Kuenn for the the 27th out. Hank Aaron, it seemed, was among the few hitters that had Koufaxs number. 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. And that loss was in his only career one-hitter. Brooklyn had dibs on Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and the other Boys of Summer. By 1958,meanwhile, the Dodgerss organization leftBrooklyn for the promised land of Los Angeles, breaking the hearts ofmillions of New Yorkers as they went. 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. Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax (cover story). Even today, baseball has but one Sandy, as it has one Babe. The connection between Koufax and the other gentleman, the pitcher who made that game perfection-plus, is long distance and infrequent. 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 results clearly suggested that. Hendley beat him three times and lost but once. He was the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball. ", Hendley added to his description of the game last winter. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first on a Jim Gilliam walk, a wild pitch and a single by Tommy Davis. In the decades that have passed, the legend of that game has grown. Koufax Burdette, who was the winning pitcher, allowed 12 hits in his complete game victory, though. . All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. 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. Click for copy. He also used Empirin with codeine for pain, which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning to make it through a game. Phone: 602.496.1460 Did Sandy Koufax ever hit a home run? Robert Creamer, An Urgent Matter Of One Index Finger, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 1963. !,Los Angeles Times, May 12, 1963, p. I-1. 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. 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. A young Sandy Koufax in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform.Brooklyn Born. Later, however, the two pitchers discovered that each was being used in the sessions with Bavasi against the other, saying one was asking for more than the other. ", Hendley's loss seemed quite unfair. Fifty years ago on October 6, at the tender age of 30, Sandy Koufax bowed out of baseball. Like Koufax, Hendley was betrayed by his pitching elbow and forced to retire earlier than planned. Explore Which team has won the most World Series since 2000? over New York Yankees (A.L.). 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. "To be beaten by class, beaten by the guy who is one of the best, if not the best ever. Johnson, Washington Senators, won 3 Triple Crowns: 1913, 1918 & 1924. By 1965, he had almost unmatched cachet throughout the game. That's how close they came to a double no-hitter evening. The Drysdale-Jim Bouton duel in Game 3 (a 1-0 final) was the greatest single day of pitching I've ever seen. Mays' home run came on Spahn's 201st pitch. So the uniqueness of the game is derived from Hendley exclusively. 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. Aces were on the mound again in a game 1 rematch between Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. He had thrown a no-hitter in each of the preceding three seasons. No speeches, no press conferences, no tears, no tributes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Over the years, Hendley's appreciation of Koufax has grown. 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). Koufax was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. But to his and baseballs good fortune, he did not quit, but rather persevered, to become one of baseballs all-time greats. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; This could be another tale of the astounding exploits of Sandy Koufax, one more of so many; and each one warranted. "I knew it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat him. "I was average.". 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. "I was standing on the top step of the dugout, at the end. Koufax-Drysdale Spokesman Says Next Move Up to Dodgers, Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1966, p. B-6. 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. He did have two home runs. How could Billy have been so late? Click for copy. But even the extraordinary Pirates-Braves game of May 26, 1959, paled in comparison with the Koufax-Hendley game. 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. Pitcher Carl Erskine is shown in his Brooklyn uniform. Second baseman Dick Tracewski's single preceded a three-run home run by catcher John Roseboro to give the Dodgers a 40 lead. Keith Thursby, Sandy Koufax on Pitching and Pain, April 10, 1969, LATimes.com, (Daily Mirror Blog), April 10, 2009. In one of the games we will get to in a minute, the two starting pitchers pitched 23+ innings, struck out 29 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "What a nice man! 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. . 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. I'm 46, and I just barely qualify. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. And the run he surrendered, in the fifth inning, was unearned. "In the latter part of the game, [Sandy] was awesome," Hendley said. It was a record setting, perfect bame masterpiece in a game that ranks as one of the greatest pitching duels in That night in Los Angeles, hitting the ball in any direction and with any chance of success was another issue. 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. Frank Finch, Koufax Victor, Misses Shutout in Ninth, Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1963, p. A-1. His career resum includes a 48-52 record, 3.97 ERA, 25 complete games, six shutouts. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. "We both gave up two runs, we both allowed five hits. But a mutual respect is evident between Hendley and the master. 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. But now the great Mantle had come to town, and he had homered off Koufax, and our lives were eminently richer. ", Video: 2015 ASG: Koufax throws out first pitch to Bench. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. When Stan Musial struck out looking and Ken Boyer flied out to left, it appeared Koufax had found his groove, but he walked Bill White, loading the bases. Haddix carried a perfect game into the 13th against a most formidable Braves lineup. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; 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. The results clearly suggested that. . He walked Frank Howard homered into the second deck down the left-field line, a feat that went unmatched at Dodger Stadium for years. With the count 2-and-2, Koufax was a strike away from getting out of the jam. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. On that night, Sept. 9, 1965, with both pitchers and Scully at their bests, Hendley was nearly the equal of Koufax. Video: 9/9/65 [emailprotected]: Koufax fans 14 in perfect game. Moreover, Hendley's ERA in his six starts opposite Koufax was 2.98. After the World Series, in November, Sandy Koufax announced his retirement from baseball due to his arthritic condition. Their 2020 title was won as the "home team" albeit as part of the neutral site World Series in Arlington, Texas. Dont Let Em Fool You; Koufax Wanted to Pitch, Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1966, p. B-1.