This day in Los Angeles Dodgers history saw Sandy Koufax inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Manny Mota tie an MLB pinch-hit record and Éric Gagné put his name into the record books as well.
On August 7, 1972, Koufax became the youngest player to ever be enshrined in Cooperstown at 36 years old. He was voted in on 344 of 396 ballots, which totals just under 87% of the vote.
The 1972 MLB Hall of Fame class also included former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, and Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox pitcher Early Wynn.
Koufax finished 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA in 12 seasons with the Dodgers, beginning his career in Brooklyn. Along with being the first pitcher to win three Cy Young Awards, Koufax was a seven-time All-Star, five-time ERA leader and the 1963 National League MVP.
Koufax threw one perfect game, four no-hitters and won four World Series during a historic career with the Dodgers.
The southpaw was outstanding for the club in their postseason runs, pitching to a 0.95 ERA in 57 career postseason innings while being named MVP of the Fall Classic in both 1963 and 1965.
From 1961-1966, Koufax went 129-47 with a 2.19 ERA and 1,713 strikeouts in 1,632.2 innings pitched. During that six-year stretch, Koufax reached double digits in complete games each season. That included going the distance in 27 starts during the 1965 and ’66 seasons.
Koufax retired after the 1966 season at just 30 years old, citing concerns over chronic arthritis in his elbow. Koufax’s final season in 1966 may have been his best, as he went 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA, 27 complete games, five shutouts and 317 strikeouts en route to an NL triple crown.
Dodgers celebrate Koufax
The Dodgers unveiled a Sandy Koufax statue at Dodger Stadium in June 2002, and on Aug. 7, 2024, held Sandy Koufax bobblehead giveaway night.
Manny Mota moves closer to MLB history
Also on Aug. 7, but in 1979, Mota made MLB history by tying Smoky Burgess’ all-time pinch-hit record of 144 hits, with a single against the Houston Astros.
Mota spent 20 years in the big leagues, playing for the San Francisco Giants (1962), Pittsburgh Pirates (1963-1968), Montreal Expos (1969) and Dodgers (1969-1980, 1982). Mota was the first player selected in the 1968 MLB expansion draft but did not spend long with the Expos before being traded to the Dodgers, where he found a home.
Mota finished his 13-year career as the all-time leader with 150 pinch-hits, although that record has since been broken by Lenny Harris (212) and Mark Sweeney (175), both of whom spent some time with the Dodgers.
Mota was recognized in 2019 for 50 years with the organization as player, coach and broadcaster. Mota was inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball in April 2023.
Eric Gagné saves record
On Aug. 7, 2003, Gagné tied the single year with his 38th consecutive save to begin the season. The right-hander went on to collect 55 saves for the Dodgers that season.
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