Sanford “Sandy” Koufax was born on December 30, 1935. The Los Angeles Dodgers legend is now a special advisor to the chairman after reigning supreme as the premier pitcher during his era.
The southpaw was born and raised in Brooklyn and spent his collegiate days at the University of Cincinnati. After one year of playing baseball at the University of Cincinnati, Koufax left to try out for New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Dodgers at the Major League level.
The Dodgers would go on to sign the pitcher in 1954 and he made his Major League in June 1955, tossing two innings of relief in a Dodgers loss.
In 1963, Koufax went 25-5, with a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts. That season he led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts — or the “Pitching Triple Crown” — and shutouts. Koufax won the first of three career Cy Young awards that season.
Aptly nicknamed “The Left Arm of God,” Koufax went on to have equally dominant seasons in 1965 and 1966. In both seasons he led the Majors in ERA and strikeouts.
The southpaw also earned All-Star accolades, consecutive Cy Young awards, and a World Series MVP trophy in 1965 as the Dodgers won their fourth championship in franchise history.
Koufax finished his career a seven-time All-Star, 1963 NL MVP, five-time ERA leader, threw one perfect game and four no-hitters.
Although arthritis ultimately ended his career, the Dodger legend impacted the game on a national level and had his jersey retired by the Dodgers in 1972.
Dodger Blue would like to wish Sandy Koufax a happy 80th birthday!
