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Sandy Koufax

Baseball Pitcher Sandy Koufax

Full Name: Sanford Braun
Profession: Baseball Pitcher

Nationality:
United States of America
American

Biography: Koufax is considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, perhaps the greatest left-hander of all-time. He pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966 before arthritis in his left elbow ended his career prematurely at age 30

The 7-time All-Star was the NL MVP in 1963 and was the first 3-time Cy Young winner in baseball history in 1963, 1965 and 1966. He is the only pitcher to win the award 3 times when one overall award was given for all of MLB instead of one award for each League.

Koufax also won the NL Triple Crown in those same 3 years by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts and earned run average. He was the first MLB pitcher to pitch 4 no-hitters and the 8th to pitch a perfect game in baseball history.

At age 36 in 1972, the 4-time World Series winner became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Born: December 30, 1935
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Age: 88 years old

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Capricorn

Historical Events

  • 1953-12-14 Brooklyn Dodgers sign pitcher Sandy Koufax
  • 1955-06-08 MLB Brooklyn Dodgers option pitcher (and future Baseball Hall of Fame manager) Tommy Lasorda to make room on roster for future Hall of Famer, pitcher Sandy Koufax
  • 1955-08-27 Sandy Koufax fans 14 Reds, both teams combine for record 23 strikeouts
  • 1959-06-22 Most Phillies strike out in a game (16 by Sandy Koufax)
  • 1959-08-31 Sandy Koufax breaks Dizzy Dean's NL mark of 18 strikeouts in a game
  • 1961-09-27 Sandy Koufax sets NL strikeout season record at 269
  • 1962-04-24 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax's 2nd career 18-strikeout, in a 10-2 win over Cubs in Chicago
  • 1962-06-30 LA Dodgers' future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax no-hits New York Mets, 5-0; first of 4 career no-hitters thrown by Koufax
  • 1963-05-11 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his second career no-hitter; beats Juan Marichal and the SF Giants, 8-0
  • 1963-10-02 LA Dodgers' Sandy Koufax strikes out World Series record 15 NY Yankees in Game 1 of the Baseball World Series at Yankee Stadium; Dodgers win, 5-2 and sweep series, 4-0
  • 1963-10-06 Baseball World Series: LA Dodgers edge NY Yankees, 2-1 at Dodger Stadium for 4-0 series sweep; MVP: Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax
  • 1963-10-24 Sandy Koufax is unanimous winner of Cy Young Award
  • 1963-10-30 Sandy Koufax wins NL MVP award
  • 1964-04-14 LA Dodgers' future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his 9th complete game without allowing a walk in 4-0 Opening Day win over St. Louis Cardinals
  • 1964-04-18 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax strikes out the side on 9 pitches, for major league best third time in his career
  • 1964-06-04 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax tosses his 3rd career no-hitter; beats Phillies, 3-0 in Philadelphia
  • 1965-09-09 LA Dodgers future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his 4th career no-hitter and first perfect game in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium
  • 1965-10-14 Baseball World Series: LA Dodgers edge Minnesota Twins, 2-0 in Game 7 at Metropolitan Stadium; Dodgers 3rd title since move to LA; MVP: LA pitcher Sandy Koufax
  • 1965-11-03 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax is named Cy Young Award winner by a unanimous vote and for a third time; posts 26-8 record, 1.73 ERA and record-shattering 382 strikeouts
  • 1966-02-28 Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin a joint holdout against the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • 1966-09-29 Sandy Koufax pitches 3rd 300-strikeout season
  • 1966-10-02 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax wins his 27th game of the season, 6-3 v Philadelphia Phillies; clinches Dodgers 3rd National League pennant in 4 years
  • 1966-11-01 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax becomes first 3-time winner of Cy Young Award; unanimous winner for 2nd straight year; final year only 1 award given for pitchers in both major leagues
  • 1966-11-18 Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Sandy Koufax announces his retirement due to an arthritic left elbow
  • 1972-01-19 Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra, & Early Wynn elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 1972-08-07 Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, Lefty Gomez, Early Wynn, Josh Gibson, Will Harridge, Buck Leonard & Ross Youngs are inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Biographies and Sources


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