Sandy Koufax
Pitcher
1955-66 Brooklyn/Los
Angeles Dodgers
Won 5 consecutive
ERA titles, 1962-66, a major league record.
Pitched 4
no-hitters, including one perfect game.
Koufax had one of
the most spectacular five season runs in the
history of baseball from 1962-66. Duting this
period he was 111-34 with 100 complete games and
33 shutouts.
Because of strict
bonus baby rules, Koufax was forced to be on the
Dodgers major league roster from the time he was
signed in 1955 at the age of 18. He had trouble
with his control for his first few years. The
popular story is that Dodgers catcher Norm Sherry
was the one who turned Koufax's career around in
1961 when he told the southpaw to stop trying to
just throw hard and instead use more finesse
pitches.
Led the NL in wins
and strikeouts in 1963, 1965, and 1966. He won
the Cy Young Award all three years and the MVP
award as well in 1963. Koufax also led the league
in strikeouts in 1961.
Led the Dodgers to
three NL pennants--1963, 1965, and 1966.
Pitched two
shutouts in the 1965 World Series as the Dodgers
beat the Twins in seven.
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Koufax in spring training, 1963
Considered to be
one of the greatest left-handers of all time at
his peak.
Struck out 18
players in a game in 1958, tying a then-major
league record.
Won the first and
last games of the 1963 World Series as the
Dodgers swept the Yankees.
Due to a
deteriorating arthritic condition in his arm,
Koufax decided to retire after the 1966 season
even though he was still at the peak of his game.
Elected to the
National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, the
youngest player ever elected.
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