The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to unveil a Sandy Koufax statue at Dodger Stadium before Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, making him the second member in franchise history to receive the honor.
It will be sculpted by Branly Cadet, who also created the Jackie Robinson statue that was unveiled on the left field reserve level of Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2017.
Robinson’s statue has since been moved to the center field plaza as part of the Dodger Stadium renovations. It helps fulfill the organization’s vision of having that area serve as a welcome point for Dodgers fans.
“This is the spot where our Metro buses stop. They are an increasingly popular way to get to Dodger Stadium. We love being able to make it easy and convenient for our fans,” Dodgers executive vice president of planning and development Janet Marie Smith recently said of the plaza.
In addition to the Jackie Robinson statue, the center field space features an oversized World Series ring, SportsNet LA set and Tommy Lasorda bobblehead, among other highlights. Come this weekend they will be joined by the new Sandy Koufax statue.
“The statue will be located at our main entrance in the Centerfield Plaza, right next to Jackie Robinson’s statue, and fans entering those gates will be ‘greeted’ by Jackie and Sandy,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement.
“Not only are both of these Hall of Famers part of our rich Dodger history, they are also continuously inspiring sports fans everywhere.”
Robinson and Koufax having statues that sit adjacent to each other is fitting for the former teammates who along with Don Newcombe, had their numbers retired by the Dodgers on June 4, 1972, and are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance will receive a replica Koufax statue.
Initial plans for a Koufax statue were announced in 2019, with an intention to unveil it the following year. However, the Dodgers postponed the project due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The unveiling ceremony will be carried live by SportsNet LA at 11:30 a.m. PT on Saturday.
Sandy Koufax career with Dodgers
Spending time with the franchise while they were in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Koufax went 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 40 shutouts over 12 seasons. He became the first pitcher in MLB history with four no-hitters, which included one perfect game.
Koufax led the National League in ERA and shutouts from 1962-66. That stretch also saw him win the MVP and Cy Young Award in 1963, and the top pitching honor in 1965 and 1966 as well. The famed left-hander was part of World Series teams with the Dodgers in 1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965.
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