Led by Sandy Koufax on Oct. 6, 1963, the Los Angeles Dodgers captured their third World Series championship in franchise history by completing a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees. It came one day after the first ever World Series game at Dodger Stadium.
In a rematch between Game 1 starters Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford, neither team would score until L.A. took a slim 1-0 advantage on a fifth-inning home run by Frank Howard.
Although Mickey Mantle tied the game with his own solo home run in the seventh, Willie Davis’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning scored Jim Gilliam after he reached base thanks to a defensive misplay by Yankees first baseman Joe Pepitone trying to catch a throw from Clete Boyer.
With Koufax back on the mound and with the lead, the left-hander had all the run support he needed to go the distance in the complete game performance and carry the Dodgers to their 2-1 victory in Game 4.
Koufax was named World Series MVP for his efforts and performance.
Led throughout the entire series by aces Koufax, Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres on the mound, Dodgers pitchers held the powerhouse Yankees lineup to just four runs in the entire series, allowing themselves a pristine opportunity to win their second title in five years.
Sandy Koufax declines to pitch on Yom Kippur
Also on this day in Dodgers history, Koufax declined to start in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series in observance of Yom Kippur.
Regarded by Koufax and many others to be the most important day in the Jewish Religion, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, was regarded by the Dodgers ace to be a day that he would not work on.
While the decision was met with close to no criticism at all, Koufax has provided conclusive statements as to why he made his choice not to pitch on the important day within the Jewish religion.
With the Dodgers calling upon Drysdale to start against the Minnesota Twins in Game 1, Koufax then took the mound in Games 2, 5 and 7, delivering shutout performances in the latter two.
His performance was well regarded as he was awarded another World Series MVP.
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