Sandy Koufax
| Birthdate | 12/30/1935 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1955 |
| Year of Induction | 1972 |
| Teams | Dodgers |
| Position | Pitcher |
Sandy Koufax led the National League in earned run average from 1962-1966 & won 111 games during that time. Those were his final 5 seasons.
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Koufax smiles for the camera after getting the save for 21-year old pitcher Joe Moeller
Koufax smiles for the camera after getting the save for 21-year old pitcher Joe Moeller
Sandy Koufax shakes hands with 21-year old Joe Moeller after preserving the win for the young righty. The save was the seventh of Sandy’s career and was of the three-inning variety. It came after Moeller scattered three hits over six innings. Moeller also signed the photo.
Moeller recounts the thrill of having Koufax relieve him
Moeller recounts the thrill of having Koufax relieve him
Joe Moeller took the hill on May 24, 1964 to square off against Jim Bunning and the Phillies, at that point owners of the best record in the National League. The youngest Los Angeles Dodger starting pitcher at 19 just two years earlier, Moeller was outstanding.
In a testament to how times have changed, manager Walt Alston turned to Koufax who three days earlier pitched a complete game for relief. Koufax responded with three scoreless innings as he faced one batter over the minimum.
Moeller writes, “It was great to have the greatest pitcher I ever saw relieve me and get the save. Both Bunning and Sandy are in the Hall of Fame, but I got the win that day.”
Moeller's road roommate and catcher Jeff Torborg recalls the shutout
Moeller's road roommate and catcher Jeff Torborg recalls the shutout
Jeff Torborg caught Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game and served as his catcher for three seasons. He was Joe Moeller’s teammate for seven of Joe’s eight big league seasons. Here Torborg provides his own recollections of the game in which Moeller and Koufax combined for a shutout. “John Roseboro caught the game. I was in my first big-league season and paying close attention to how he handled the two pitchers. Joe was 20 at the time. He started the game and pitched six strong innings before our skipper Walt Alston lifted him. Sandy came in to relieve him and pitched three innings to complete the shutout and get the save…”
Dodger Southpaws - a 1961 offering from Topps
Dodger Southpaws - a 1961 offering from Topps
In the collection is a 1961 Topps card featuring and signed by Dodger lefties Sandy Koufax and Johnny Podres. Koufax was one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the game, but at at the time the card was released, his career record stood at 36-40. Podres, the former World Series MVP was a two time All Star with a career 81-66 mark. Who could have predicted the greatness of Koufax that would start the following season?
Teammate Joe Moeller vividly details Koufax's 1964 no-hitter
Teammate Joe Moeller vividly details Koufax's 1964 no-hitter
Outstanding content from a man who was there: Joe Moeller was 21-years old when Sandy Koufax pitched the second of his four no-hitters. After the game, Koufax was interviewed at length about his gem and was the last to get on the bus, taking a seat next to Moeller. Here Moeller writes in vivid detail of Koufax’s disappointment in the game and calls Koufax, “one of the most intelligent, articulate, and humble players I ever met.”
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale helped lead the way to the 1965 World Series title
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale helped lead the way to the 1965 World Series title
In 1965 the Dodgers won their third World Series in seven years. The Los Angeles offense left much to be desired. Pitcher Don Drysdale was their only .300 hitter.
The team relied on the pitching of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Big D had a fine year, going 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA, 208 strikeouts and 20 complete games. As good as he was, Koufax was far superior.
The unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award, Koufax led the league in wins (27), ERA (2.04), strikeouts (382), innings (335 2/3), complete games (27), and WHIP (career best 0.855).
Los Angeles won 97 games to earn a trip to the Fall Classic. The Series didn’t start according to plan. Pennant-winning Minnesota beat the Dodger dynamic duo in the first two games of the Series.
After Claude Osteen shut out the Twins in Game 3, the Dodgers tied the series behind Drysdale’s complete game five-hitter. In Game 5 Koufax twirled a gem in a 10-strikeout four-hit shutout.
The Twins evened things up with a Game 6 win. Dodger skipper Walter Alston turned to Koufax in the Series finale. Pitching on just two days rest, Koufax dominated the Twins. The lefty again struck out ten, this time allowing just three hits. For his efforts he was named the Series MVP.
Shown here is a 9×11 sheet commemorating the 1965 World Champion Dodgers. It is autographed by both Dodger pitchers.
Koufax became the Dodger franchise leader in Ks in 1965 and held the mark the rest of his career
Koufax became the Dodger franchise leader in Ks in 1965 and held the mark the rest of his career
Dazzy Vance led the NL in strikeouts for seven straight years from 1922-1928. After that he continued to march all the way to the top spot on the Dodger franchise record book. Vance held the mark for the rest of his life.
Four years after Dazzy’s 1961 passing, Sandy Koufax became the Dodger strikeout king. Sandy kept the record until Don Drysdale surpassed his total in 1968.
Before Vance found fame with Brooklyn he was a fringe prospect with the Yankees. The Hall of Fame hurler appeared in 10 games with New York, going 0-3 with a 4.45 earned run average.
His last two appearances for the Yanks came in 1918. On February 20, 1919 the Yankees transferred his contract to Double-A Sacramento.
In the collection is the document that made that transfer official. The signatures of Vance and Hall of Fame Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert are on it. Autographs from this early in Vance’s career are rarely seen.
