I am 82 years old and I keep coming back to this video. I saw 3 beautiful things in all those years that really have stuck with me, my wife when she was pregnant, my children when they were sleeping and watching Sandy throw a fast ball. And especially watching him strike out Mickey. Pete Rose had some things to say about Sandy's curve ball. Watching Sandy was just poetry in motion, fluid, smooth......
I was working at the ticket counter for a major airline in Orlando in 1985...I got to wait on Sandy he was a remarkably nice person although I knew who he was we never discussed baseball..he didn't no me but he asked about how I was doing and how was my family doing...we talked for about ten minutes and wished each other well..when he walked away he walked by several people on his way to the gate...nobody in the terminal recognized him..I told my co workers there goes one of the best pitcher in baseball history and nobody knows who he is!!!..WOW ..he gave me alot of thrills as a young fan...I cried a tear when he retired.
Mikeforte7585, VERY cool story my friend! Sandy Koufax actually still has His home down south of my area about 55-miles or so. When the Dodgers still had spring-training in Vero Beach, I used to LOVE going down to watch the Grapefruit League "Baby-Dodgers" play at Holman Field. Yup, I even wore one of my "SF-GIANTS" caps down there a lot too, & never had any problems. During this time I also purchased on official players cap that was Dodger-Blue, with "V B" initials on the top of a grapefruit. Still have that cool cap too, always will, + sometimes HOPING that the Dodger organization will return there some day? I never saw Sandy at any of the games I watched then, but I knew He was reported as attending them on occasion. And relating to His preferred "anonymity;" very true, and the cool thing is that the folks down in Vero are still very good about just leaving the guy alone, sometimes even "running some interference" for Him when such circumstance arise.
The deep South is a long way from L.A. However, because of Sandy Koufax and specifically the '63 World Series, an 11-year old kid in Mississippi became a lifelong Dodger fan. To this day, despite all the stadiums visited and games I covered with my career, those Koufax-Drysdale-Wills-Davis, etc. teams of the mid-60's stand out as vividly if they were played last season. The best lefty ever. Period. Thanks Sandy!
Sandy Koufax was much more than a baseball player. He was a dignified gentleman. Pure class. Plus for six years he was the greatest pitcher of all time.
@roberteaston6413 Big D took Sandy's place during that situation and bombed out, seven runs against him after a few innings. As Alston took the ball at the mound Drysdale commented, "Gee, Skip, I bet you wish I were Jewish too".
@@MarkBryant-sd8cj Ah HAHAHAHA!! Brother Mark, I've always thought that I know/knew a ton of folklore regarding both the Giants and Dodgers cultures, but, I "thought?" -which obviously is not true (And yes, I thought I was very familiar with most of Twin-D's sometimes hilarious quips?) Until you mentioned it here, I NEVER knew Twin-D made that VERY funny crack! Speaking of which, when (very sad!) the National League went with the weeny DH-option last season, my first thought was, "Drysdale has gotta be rolling in His grave!" Remember back when on some of His days when He wasn't pitching, & Alston would stick Him in as a pinch-hitter? Yup, Twin-D could also hit hell out of the ball too!
Sandy is right up there with Stan Musial, Willie McCovey, and a few other superstars who embodied grace, humility, and class throughout their careers. I've been a Giants fan my entire life but have always had nothing but deep respect for Koufax. In a decade of brilliant pitching featuring Gibson, Marichal, Drysdale and even Denny McClain for a couple of years, Sandy was the best.
Thank you from a lifelong Dodgers fan. I want to add that Willie McCovey was always a gentleman, I feared him but never "hated" him because he was a "dirty Giant". Seriously, when McCovey came up to bat against the Dodgers it used to scare the hell out of me. I also never hated Willie Mays, he was just a once in a lifetime along with Hank Aaron.
Agreed. As much as I wish to place Juan Marichal in a similar greatness bucket, Sandy Koufax was designed differently. Whether the regular season or in World Series games, no one was better than #32. Koufax remains the best.
@@OldRustySteele OldRusty, spent part of my childhood in the midwest back then, & watched LOTS of Cards-games on TV. As I've mentioned in previous comments, I be a lifelong GIANTS fan, but oh my! Those "Red Birds" were awesome back then. Gibby, Lefty, but my favorite Card was/is Tim McCarver; da "Clutch-Man" who not only was a great catcher, but could hit absolute hell out of da ball when it really mattered! And He was/is my by far, my favorite sportscaster-color commentator as well. RIP "Tim McCarver!" (RE: "Lefty above? For those (other than Rusty of course) who don't recognize this nic-name, "Lefty" = the great "Steve Carlton," and a further note: Lefty ALWAYS preferred McCarver to catch Him; the prime reason why both were on the Phillies together after trades!)
@@martinbachmann6283 Hi Martin. You bet! Timmy Mac, the pride of Memphis! Tough as nails behind the plate and AT the plate in the clutch. And, like you, I enjoyed his commentary on telecasts. Really did a deep dive on strategy and situational play. We lost 2 beloved Cards last year - McCarver and Mike Shannon. Shannon was a hometown boy. We lived in the same Catholic parish back in the late ‘60’s when I was a teenager. (Back when ball players didn’t make 48 zillion a year and lived near us “regular folk”!!) BTW, did you used to jam with a fellow named Turner, takin’ care of business in Overdrive ?!? 😂 Cheers, Ol’ Rustbucket
He had the most beautiful pitching delivery of all time - look at the extension he got, the ball is nearly touching the ground when he rears back to fire, and the way he points his right toe at first base and then comes striaght over the top! So perfectly elegant! Never seen anything like it since.
@@kuppday7052 , Ive seen the same stupid post on multiple baseball related videos. He's a troll. We in the USA prefer our own sports. The Man U can suck it!
Manchester!!! If you continue to disrespect the great game of baseball, it's high time you leave this site and direct your comments to your cronies in the UK. We don't need you here any longer.
We all loved Sandy Koufax and the entire Dodger Organization. Our whole Family followed our Dodger Team year after year. That is why he is recognized in the Game of Baseball. Thank you Sandy as you are one of the best.
There was no one like him and no one since . There may have been better pitchers, but no one was so hodd and yet so honorable in the way he played. Sandy wasn't just a great ball player, he is a class act.
No pitcher was better than Koufax. He had the best breaking ball ( curveball ) ever as told by the world's best baseball players and a 98 mile an hour moving fastball, he was the best of the best.
@@johnnypastrana6727 I agree with you Thanks. I stood behind Johnny Roseboro #8 Catcher for the Dodgers. I watched Koufax Fan Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and one other player on 9 pitches he made em look silly. Koufax was a Super Star All Time Greatest Pitcher. and Class role model. What A Champion He was. I was like 10 years Old watching that.
I had an opportunity to meet Harmon Killibrew... l asked him about game 7 of the world series and what was being felt on the Twins bench. Koufax pitched a 2 hitter on only 2 days rest...throwing mostly fast balls as his elbow was too sore to throw a curve... and Mr. Killibrew said it was the greatest game he ever saw pitched. By the way, l became an admirer or Harmon Killibrew after that..(he got one of the hits that game)..incredibly humble..
Willie Stargell said he would get asked all the time what it was like to hit off Koufax. His reply was simply "You ever try to drink coffee with a fork?"
I'm 76 years old; I've seen a lot of great pitchers over those years; I've never seen anything like Koufax; he was as un-hittable as it gets; also a great representative of the game (and life in general)....a lot of class.....my 2nd pick for un-hittable was Nolan Ryan.
Agree with you on both pitchers, Ian, though Koufax was a far better pitcher than Ryan, who lost almost as many as he won. He was sure hard to hit, though.
That's the thing about Ryan that just puzzles me to death. How could a guy be that dominant and not have a better win-loss record? Did he get very little run support for the majority of his career? I wish someone could explain it to me in great detail... Lol
@@oldiesgeek454 Baseball is a team game. To have a winning record, the rest of the team has to hit. Perhaps the only pitcher who could do it all on his own, was Babe Ruth. And we now know that every fastball takes a little more out of a player's arm. So when we see players like Ryan who lasted so long, it's even more amazing.
rina.schwarz@outlook.com Someone at work wanted to fix me up with Sandy Koufax and I told him I wasn't interested. Silly me. Curious to know how it would have turned out.
@@fredwright5954 Ah nope, you're slightly mistaken here; and it was a "6-year span," and NOBODY before, or SINCE could match that specific time-frame event. And no, it certainly will not occur in the future either; too many prima-donna types in MLB today, the DH (< Disgusting!) in the National League now, which means any even close approach to Koufax's record will have to have a silly * (< asterisk) next to it! MLB started to become ruined way back in '66-'67 when the pitchers-mound was lowered 6-inches, & then along comes the totally weeny "DH" provision? Can hardly watch MLB anymore. 😡 😭
No, he isn't. Shohei Ohtani is clearly the greatest living baseball player. This season he became the first player in history to hit over 50 homers and steal over 50 bases. He is also an outstanding pitcher who didn't pitch this season because he is recovering from surgery. Koufax was a great pitcher, but was not even a decent hitter or a threat on the bases. Ohtani clearly is a better all-around baseball player than Koufax.
@ Certainly the greatest living “active“ baseball player with 250 some odd home runs in his career. Sandy Koufax is the greatest living baseball player.
Willie Mays has said repeatedly that every time he faced Koufax he knew exactly what he was going to throw and still had "no chance". I look at his curve and am still in utter awe of that break. The guy was without question the GOAT, totally unhittable at his peak. And his .95 era in the postseason seals further discussion on the matter.
I just heard that Bob Gibson died tonight. He was an outstanding pitcher. But I truly believe that Sandy Koufax was one of the greatest pitchers of all time! Koufax is the the all-time best pitcher whose career ended early due to a bum elbow! We should all be proud of what he accomplished.
I remember watching Bob Gibson on TV with my dad. We both liked and respected him, he didn't screw around between pitches and one hard nosed guy. Great to watch as well. Rest in Peace Mr.Gibson.
I was one of four (seemingly Okie, bare-footed and WASP white) boys growing up in central valley CA in the late 50's and 60's. We were all baseball mad, and we all rooted for different teams. Our older brother was a Mickey fan for the Yankees, the #2 boy loved Yogi and Sandy, I was a Giants fan living and dying for what Willie did each day, and the youngest loved Hank Aaron and the Braves. We all sang the praises of (while not rooting for) Clemente, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Don Drysdale, and Robin Roberts, while Warren Spahn, Whitey, Lou Burdette, and Juan Marichal were household gods. What a great time for baseball. Our dad (paralyzed with polio) never allowed politics or religion at the dinner table, but there were lots of friendly insults and digs about baseball. He loved it. He started listening to Dodger games in the late 50's when Sandy was wild as a hare, but then learned to control his pitches. The rest was a short but VERY sweet history. We ALL agreed that in that time period, no pitcher could be placed in the same rank as Koufax. He WAS the best.
@@kevinrussell1144 Brother Kevin, absolutely AWESOME Dad you had (< and still have when we all go to da BIG ballpark in the sky some day) my friend! Would have LOVED having dinner with your family back then too! Yup, GIANTS fan here too, though I always liked the DODGERS too? I won't list any of the GIANTS players' names ( you know them all just like me anyways) but just one - "Bobby BONDS." Along with the rest, I really loved this guy, & he could play "baseball" > I add italics to the word on purpose because Bobby sure was EONS better than His infamous son? During the time your family resided in "Central Valley" California, our family lived up in Northern Calif from 1959-66. That's when I really began being a true MLB fan. Thanks VERY much for sharing a GREAT family story/culture with the rest of us too!
@@martinbachmann6283 Thanks for the kind reply. I'll bet your family experienced some very similar happenings. I married an SF girl (just had lunch with her). She recalls a writing assignment in grammar school titled: "Why Willie Mays is the Greatest ballplayer of all time". Most of my friends growing up, however, were Vin Sculley-Dodger fans, but I, too, loved the Dodgers.....the Davis boys, Maury, Wally Moon, the great Jim Gilliam, Johnny R....all good times. Thanks, friend, for helping us all think back on those simpler times.
To this day, Sandy was, and is ,in a class by himself!!🥰 I'm 71 years old. I've seen A LOT of MLB pitchers. I'm a lifelong Yankees and Cubs fan but Koufax is the greatest hurler that I ever laid eyes on!!! 🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
As a child, I grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, a third generation (at least) Yankee fan. It was unquestionable to me that the Yankees were invincible. Then one day I sat down to watch the opener of the 63 World Series. Whitey set down the first 3 Dodgers. I was comfortable. Then the cool and confident Koufax took the mound and began throwing rockets... and my world perspective was shaken. He pitched 2 complete games, allowed 3 runs, and struck out 23. It seemed to me that he struck out everyone. Never seen anything like it - before or after. Respect.
Shutting down the Cubbies line up in 1965 included three hall of famers. What an amazing athlete Koufax was. What is remarkable about him is that he never pitched until he was 15 years old. It took him a few years to get his stride but when he did there was none better. Thanks for uploading this!!
Got his book, in the 2nd grade, Life and times of Sandy Koufax...and still have it to this day...that was 1966......I'm 62....grew up during the best times of baseball ⚾️
When you get a chance pick up the book by the brilliant Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax, A lefty's Legacy. Every other chapter covers each inning of his perfect game. Wonderfully woven into his life story.
And it would be another half century before the Cubs would (finally) fall victim to a no hitter (Cole Hamels, July 25th, 2015-Philadelphia Phillies 5, Chicago Cubs 0).
As a kid ( 67 now) my dad bought me a "45" with Vin Scully calling the last inning of Sandy's perfect game, I can't say how many times I listened to it but I can say everytime i did i had goose bumps , Vin Scully was to broadcasting what Michaelangelo was to painting.
koufax's last 4 years are simply amazing, the 4 no hitters of course from 1962 to 1965. but from 1963 to 1966 he was 97-27 - a .782 winning percentage. an era of 1.86 over 1192.2 innings. 31 shutouts and 1228 strike outs. 1.03 strikeouts per inning for almost 1200 innings. still 8th overall of guys who've pitched 12 years or more. it's one thing to be a flame thrower, but another to be winning 25, 26, and 27 games a season. he had a combined 54 complete games in two consecutive seasons, 1965-66. and had it not been for missing about 12 starts in 1964 these numbers would be even more astounding.
In his early years he should have been in the minors but the Dodgers had to keep him on the roster because he is what they use to call a bonus baby. He finally put it all together with zero minor league experience! Then he had to retire while he was still young with arthritis in his elbow. Who knows what he could have done? He's still the greatest lefty pitcher ever and you can argue he was the greatest pitcher righty or lefty ever!
@@df5295 sandy had control problems early on, and he admits himself his approach was to just throw harder rather than learn how to pitch, he walked 8 batters in his first start. maybe some time in the minors would have helped, would have definitely taken some pressure off, but it's all about the pitching coach depending on where you are. even so koufax didn't like the way he was being used, so despite needing time in the minors, and who knows how that would have ended, koufax wanted more starts, and off the short leash that walter alston had him on. so he struggled for 6 years, amazing to me the dodgers never gave up on him, alston had less than full confidence in koufax's ability to throw strikes. koufax had actually demanded to be traded, not sure how that all got defused but i've heard numerous people told a stubborn alston to stop messing with koufax and just give him the ball, everyone else saw his potential. and who would have predicted the next 6 years? no one did.
Sandy was also a great basketball player. We both attended Lafayette High School in Brooklyn. I played baseball there and was a few years behind him. Naturally, we always talked about him and John Franco another Lafayette alumnus. Lafayette had a great tradition of players. Bobby and Kenny Aspromonte, Ron Solomini and about 8 others that went to the majors. Regrettably, I never met a curve ball that I liked.
I’m a lifelong STL Cardinal fan. Been watching baseball since 1963, which of course means I watched Bob Gibson in his prime. If I had one game to win like, for example, the 7th game of the World Series, my choice would be Sandy Koufax. From 1963-1966, Koufax was the very best pitcher I’ve ever seen. Period.
Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson struck out just 22 times in 630 at bats during the 1963 season. Koufax fanned him THREE TIMES the first game of the 1963 World Series....
Baby Boomer, native NY'er, and Yankee fan since Game 7 of the 1960 World Series (Mazeroski made this 8 year old cry😪) and seeing Koufax strikeout Yankee after Yankee was tough to see. A formidable Yankee lineup with Mantle, Maris, Howard, Tresh, and Richardson was tough to see. And Bobby Richardson was an excellent contact hitter. I "think " Koufax actually struck him out 4x. I'm going to check the baseball almanac.
LordofDublin4 Thanks. But I cannot feel sorry for you’ve given 1951, 1952, 1953 (against arguably the best Brooklyn Dodgers team of all time), 1956, 1958, 1961, and 1962. I replayed the 1963 series in Advanced Strat-o-Matic Baseball and Koufax won three games as the Series went six games. But Richardson never stuck out more than once in a game...
@@jpeterrich.... I have been fortunate to have witnessed many great Yankee years and players. I have no complaints. The M & M boys, Berra , Ford, Elston Howard, Guidry, Lyle, Gossage, Jeter, Ruvera .....it's good for baseball that the Yankees put a good team on the field. That's why they always are the #1 road team in attendance. The league wants to beat the Yanks and so do their fans.
There was a time where it 'called' for him to throw at an opposing Giant because Marichal threw at one of the Dodgers. Roseboro and Koufax were talking about it and Koufax said he couldn't bring himself to do it. To which Roseboro replied, no problem, I'll take care of it and make a throwing motion so it passed closely by Marichal's head when he threw the ball back to Koufax and a fight broke out. (at least that's how I understood the story).
@@3dbadboy1 You have the story correct; Koufax wouldn't purposely throw at anyone, + always felt bad if He accidentally did nail someone? But Johnny Roseboro.... He was giving Marichal an old-time "Sal 'The Barber' Maglie" close shave (< in the opposite direction) for sure. and then whack! Juan bops Roseboro with that damned bat.
In the 1963 World Series, the Yankees scored a total of 4 runs. The length of the games were: 2:09, 2:13, 2:05, and 1:50. Yes, Koufax set down the Yankees in the 4th and deciding game in way less than 2 hours! It is hard to imagine.
after game 1 of the 1963 world series when koufax struck out 15, (the first 4 batters 9 times) yogi said, "i can see how he won 25 games, what i don't understand is how he lost 5.". maury wills would reply, "he didn't, we lost them for him."
@@df5295 which was true of the era, not just the dodgers, bob gibson used to get angry about the same thing, the cardinals not giving him enough runs. for some reason i can't find a record of gibson vs. koufax. now there's a ticket you'd frame.
Sandy Koufax is one of the top 3 greatest pitchers of all time ! I saw him pitch at Crosley . Everyone in the stadium was in awe of his greatness. Fastball was incredible ; His mechanics were perfect. A class act ; even walking off the mound back to the dugout ; you knew you were witnessing the best ! I was 12 years old . Won the MVP of my little league team ; got my picture taken with the mayor of Indpls. my hometown . Will never forget how special it was ; watching one of the greatest athletes in the history of all sports. Thank you Sandy for being a total class act in everyway , a human being could be. All of these arrogant, loud in your face athlete's; don't have a clue how damaging there negative actions have on youth ; & all people !
I remember listening to Vin Scully calling that game on the radio and each instant he would announce the exact time it galvanized your attention and made you realize that something important was happening. It was like he was giving a countdown for the launch of a rocket to a world you'll always remember, and I have always remembered it.
I was there, at age 14- Sept. 9, 1965, sitting aways down the third base line with my dad- my first hero in life- as my second and last hero pitched his way into history I remember Vin Scully's call echoing through Dodger Stadium from my transistor radio- and thousands of others radios, cranked all the way up. Sandy struck out the side in the eighth, and again in the ninth- a feat as fabulous as his final perfecto- and then 31,000 blue seat cushions flying up into the air as Vin spoke the immortal words, "Swung on and missed- a perfect game!." No pitcher has ever had such a windup- a true thing of beauty. And no athlete in any sport has ever been as classy an act. The Sportsman of the Century, hands down...
Tomsmith7742 Brother Tom, oh my! What an AWESOME experience to have, especially with your Dad too. Would have LOVED to have been at that scenario! My best friend in college (< an absolute main-line sports junky) was from Oxnard, Calif. He and His Dad did a LOT of that down at Dodger Stadium too. How I envy you guys!
@@martinbachmann6283 Thanks Martin- Over the years, I managed to lose my ticket stub, so I can't prove I was there. But the memory is just as clear as ever.
I was at this game with my father and my brother on my birthday. I kept score pitch my pitch inning by inning on the souvenir program. For anyone my age and for people all throughout Los Angeles . . .Vin Scully and Sandy Koufax . . . without one you do not fully have the other.
Dom Brunelli-Maybe so, but Koufax never threw 110 shutouts like the great Walter Johnson. Of course, Koufax didn't pitch as long as the Big Train, and was completely inconsistent starting out.
saw him pitch n Houston against The Astros when the dome first opened, it was in early May. We had excelllent seats on the 3rd base side about 6-8 rows behind it their dugout. When Kofax threw you could tell i was heat even from there. When he wound up its as if his left shoulder dislocated, it came back so far. Head up, left knee nearly touched the ground, and it was flaming.
Charleswinokoor6023, oh yes - you be very correct! Our family still had our ol' black&white all the up into the early 70s too. Remember da black&white days when a frame would come up reading: "In Color??"
In a game against the Yanks Koufax threw Mantle one of those pitches that looks like it's going to first base but then breaks over the plate for a called strike. Mantle then turned to the Dodgers' catcher John Roseboro and said "How the f--k's anybody supposed to hit that?" Mantle once said that Koufax was the best pitcher he ever faced.
Should be noted, Mantle hit a homer off Koufax in the fourth and final game, tying him with Babe Ruth's all time World Series homerun record. Mantle went on to hit three more homers in the '64 WS against the Cardinals, setting the all time HR record for World Series.
First of all, Clemons wasn’t a 100 mph thrower. Low to mid 90’s with a great splitter. Clemens would not power through the hitters of that era any better than Seaver, Marichal, Gibson, Jenkins, each who had over 90 mph velocity.
Check the first pic. of Viin S. at the microphone. Shot snapped in 1958 or 59....the first years the Dodgers were in L.A. "KMPC" painted on the micr......a station flagship that was a lower power than their next 15 or 20 "glory" years, at which time the major affiliate flagship stn. was 50 KW clear channel KFI....which came in like gangbusters at night all over the west coast. I remember tuning in to Dodger games in my Perham dorm at Wash. St. Univ in 1971, at night, along w/ Paul Compton's music show, after the games had concluded.
Doctors Kerlan and Jobe did the best they could for Sandy and it's amazing he was able to last those final years ending in 1966. He endured such pain that pitchers today don't have to suffer. I saw my share of his games and also the September 9, 1965 game..........My birthday is September 7 and that game was a birthday present which is also California Admission Day where school is not in session as it was a Thursday.......Such memories!
It's 2020, coronavirus asterisk year. I'm a 65 year old lifelong Jewish baseball fan, a New Yorker. I live in Taiwan now, and on my fantasy baseball team this year, I had both Shane Beiber and Trevor Bauer, who will probably be the 2 Cy Young award winners. Beiber's stats and dominance this year took me back to my youth, and my love and pride in Sandy Koufax. It's Yom Kippur today, holiest day of the year for Jews, and though I'm not religious, I recall with pride when Sandy refused to pitch in game one of the World Series in 1965. He won game 7 on 2 days rest for the championship. He was a man of great integrity, which we could sure use in today's world.
Sandy Koufax was not his birth name he was actually Sandy Braun but his father deserted the family and when his mother remarried, Sandy adopted his stepfather's last name
Whats even scarier about Sandy was he tipped his pitches. In Ken Burns Baseball series they talk about it. He positioned his arms differently according to the pitch he was going to throw. The hitter knew what was coming Curve, Fastball but they still didn't hit it. Amazing pitcher Mr.Koufax.
@hammer44head: I was lucky to have seen Sandy 3 times between my age 13-`16.years old. 3-0, a 4 hitter, 2 3 hitters. 2 shutouts (the last on in his final year, 66) That Clint Eastwood movie "Trouble with the Curve" ? EVERYONE had trouble with Koufax curveballs when he was on! With that big overhead delivery, that curveball literally exploded like a fastball, that would DROP 2-3 feet down to the batter's knees. A thing of beauty. In slow motion, like a ballet opera. Also, dig your tag name! Having been born in Milwaukee, my 1st ball game was age 3 at Milwaukee Country Stadium in 54. Saw Hammerin' Hank hit a HR that day. He remains my favorite baseball player of all time (Koufax #2, Drysdale #3). And "Bad Henry" --- that is the nickname both Don and Sandy gave him--- is still and People's All Time HR Champ, no matter what number Bonds ended up with.
don riley--- wow that is so cool you got to see Sandy pitch. I was only 5 when he retired. I too also think Hammerin Hank is still the king of swat but my name is a nickname my friends called me and the 44 is because Chuck Foreman of the Vikings was and Jerry West of the Lakers. Cool now I must add Hank to the group!
@@hammer44head Brother Hammer, that is a very cool name you have! If you're ever in the central-coastal area of Florida, you can go over to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FLA and watch the "Jupiter HAMMERHEADS" minor-league team play - great stadium to watch baseball in!
Try to envision this: As a kid I was at a Dodgers/Spokane farm club exhibition in Spokane in the 60's. Koufax was already a legend, and I was in a long line of kids waiting to get his autograph. An older, bigger kid muscled his way into the line near the front, just as Koufax happened to look up from where he was signing autographs at the front of the line. All of us saw his eyes lock on the big kid, and everybody went dead quiet. Looking at the kid who crowded in, he said, with no smile on his face, "Son, go to the end of the line and wait your turn." I can tell you, there was no back talk, and no grumble. None. The big kid went to the back of the line, very quickly. As an 11 year old, I enjoyed it thoroughly. At 70 and retired, I still do.
Eeuhuhaaaaaa7728, I just finished taking a screen-shot of your remark. AWESOME story my friend, & thanks for sharing with the rest of us too! (ps: noticed your interesting y-tube name here; I take it your a HUGE fan of Beavis & Butthead? Me too; even though I be in my late-60s now, I always thought, and still think Beavis & Butthead is absolutely hilarious!)
Like they say...everytime Koufax pitched...you had a chance to see a no hitter...OR...a perfect game! Don't compare Pedro to Koufax....you can't...Sandy stands alone!!!
Jim Cushman I was 9 years old when Sandy blew the Yanks away in 1963. BTW, I was (and still am) a huge Yankee fan as well as being Jewish and "The Mick" is still my all time favorite player.
Pedro leaned heavily on his incredible off-speed, a pitch Sandy did not have. I read somewhere that while the throwing mechanics were identical, the difference between his fastball and his off-speed was something like 15 mph, which is apparently unheard of in the baseball world, and I'd believe it, I mean... just look at the results.
The longevity issue you're making about Koufax is pure bull. If Koufax had only pitched 4 or 5 seasons, that would be one thing. Koufax was THE MOST dominating pitcher for SIX consecutive seasons. In fact, baseball got robbed by losing Sandy to arthritis in 1966. Plus, Koufax dominated and won 26 and 27 games in '65 and '66 with two of the WORST hitting teams I've ever seen win a pennant! Longevity.. bogus argument.
In those years, when Koufax was on, I don't think he ever lost. That is, unless his team behind him crapped it up with errors. The joke I use to hear as little kid was ... Koufax is pitching today. Maury Wills walks. Steals second. Steals third. Scores on a sac fly. Dodgers win.
@@robertkelly6282 partially true. Until spring training 1961 when he learned to pitch and not just throw although he did have runs in and 1959 where he
I was fortunate to see Koufax pitch a couple times at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. My Buccos weren't so fortunate. He stuck their bats up their collective @$$e$ both times. I don't know how many people know that he and Larry King were childhood buddies. There is a video on YT of King telling "The Carvel Story," where, as teenagers, he and Koufax and a couple other friends drove from NYC to New Haven, because Koufax told them there was a Carvel store there where you could get 3 scoops for 15 cents. It's funny as hell.
M.D. here: In 1964, before MRIs and CT scans, UCL tears could not be distinguished from elbow arthritis. A Tommy John procedure might have enabled Koufax to pitch 5 more years.
Phillip, you're analysis of Gibson and Koufax is spot on. Gibson and Drysdale.. they literally intimidated hitters with their size and presence on the mound. You knew that when you stepped up to the plate against Gibby that you might get a ball right under your chin, and his look... like he hated every hitter that came up against him... Sandy, on the other hand, never needed to throw at anybody to scare the hell out of them. Either way, it worked... in their hay-day nobody could hit either one.
I was only five when this happened, but I remember... I can still see that gigantic windup, the glove and throwing arm rising above his head prior to releasing the pitch, the absolutely gigantic throwing stride with his whole body moving forward, almost tearing him off the pitcher's mound. The follow-through with the pitch practically already in the catcher's mitt. We will never see his like again. Period.
I remember about 40 years ago a young baseball fan asked me if Koufax was really as good as some said .I answered,” For a period of six consecutive years Koufax was the greatest pitcher in MLB history. Simply awesome.”
In 1966 my father took me to Wrigley Field to see Koufax pitch against the Cubs ... There were only 15,000 to 20,000 in attendance - but when he came out to warm up, everything stopped ... everyone stood up and applauded.
I remember Mantle commenting about Koufax' stuff. The Mick said: "Yeah, like anybody can hit that shit!" LOL!! Mick did homer off Sandy in the World Series once. I was lucky enough to have watched the 1963 World Series when I was 14 years-old and a lefty pitcher myself on our high school team. I was not a Yankee fan, so when Koufax set a World Series record, (at that time) by striking out 15 Yanks and the Dodgers won the Series, I became a Koufax fan for life! Loved watching him pitch! Sandy Koufax was the greatest I ever saw and I thank God I got to watch him back in the 1960s when he was at his best.
Yep, game 4, Dodgers won 2-1, Mantle homered in the seventh. Many people believe that for 6 to 7 years he was the best pitcher ever. When the best hitters from that era talk about Koufax, it is with total respect. Seemed like a great person, too.
@@felixmadison5736 I know I’m late and your statement was at least a year old, but a well thought out true statement like yours can withstand the test of time. For the record, I’m a Yankee fan and Mantle was my favorite player, but the truth is the truth. Koufax was the best at that time. Many great hitters with big egos admit they were lucky to even make contact against him.
@@ehoffman2260 I never was a Yankee fan, but Mantle was one of my boyhood idols, along with Whitey Ford. I had the utmost respect and admiration for these two ball players. Mantle was a 'God' to any baseball crazy kid like I was back in the day.
@@felixmadison5736 I guess it has to do with our age, but to my mind that was the best era for baseball. So many great players who were great for at least a decade or more. I realize Koufax had to retire early due to injury, but he may be the best ever. I know there are exceptions, but It doesn’t seem like as many guys stay on top for as long anymore. Maybe it’s the outrageous money they make.
Koufax's delivery was just beautiful to watch. Baseball historians have noted that Sandy tipped his pitches off by how he held his arms before he threw the ball yet it didn't matter cause they still for the most part couldn't hit his pitches anyway. Amazing.
I agree 100%! I'm from Philadelphia and am a Phillies fan (phan?), but Kouax was the best I ever saw and I saw Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton. Steve was great. He won 27 games one year when his team won 59 total! But I still rate Koufax #1 if I need to win one game.
@@majonari He did say that if HE had one game to win. It's his choice so he isn't wrong. You take Gibson and let's see what happens. I am betting that there wouldn't be a lot of footprints on the base paths.
@@samuelbarrett5648 So right, Samuel. Loved the stirrups that used to be visible - looked so classy because it was how a ballplayer should look. Hard to beat the unis of the 1950s. Aaron and Mantle always wore it right in the 1950s. I also liked Bob Gibson's long, bright red sleeves, which added great color to that brilliant Cards uniform.
@@mikewhitney8615 The stirrups always make any uniform better. I personally think the 60s is more of the aesthetic golden age of baseball because 1. The players started wearing their uniforms more tailored (Not tight, but not baggy like the 50s), and 2. You had the perfect combination of classic baseball teams and colors and newer, at the time, counterculture colors and teams-all while still wearing wool flannel that made the colors pop and that was worn to make the players look like athletes. If you take the Yankees classic look and the late 60s A's or Pilots, you can see the difference in approach, but all 3 still look like baseball. (Also, I wish Gibson had worn the bottom of his pants higher to show more if the stripes on the great Cardinals stirrups, but I won't nitpick someone with a 1.12 ERA in 1968 too much)
1965 I was 12 years old & Koufax was my baseball idol. I only saw him pitch one time in person & that was the night he pitched his perfect game. I was with my Dad & my Uncle Carl that night at Dodger Stadium sitting in the top deck, a little past the first base side.
My teenage friends & I used to go to the LA Coliseum frequently during the summer of 1959, to watch the Dodgers play, especially when Koufax was pitching. This summer night the Dodgers we’re facing the SF Giants & their fine veteran pitcher, Sad Sam Jones. The Giants were leading thanks to a 2 run HR by the recently called up rookie, Willie McCovey, who had hit what was probably his first major league HR to put the Giants ahead. Thankfully, the Dodgers tied the game up towards the later innings, & finally won the game in the 9th inning with “walk-off” homer by Wally Moon over the tall 40-50 ft. Screen in LF for what was called a “Moon Shot.” The most remarkable thing that night was the fact that Koufax struck out 18 batters to get the win. To this day, I still kid my younger teenage brother about his decision to stay home to watch “The Untouchables” stop more criminals that night. John C.
I am 73 yo and was fortunate to see Sandy one time in Atlanta against the Braves in 1966. The best and most artful pitcher I have ever seen. Perfect windup and high leg kick follow through. Of course he won in a complete game. Until Maddog Maddox the best I had ever seen.
I get so tired of feeling that I have to defend Sandy whenever Pedro Martinez is brought up. Sandy is defined not only by the most dominant run a pitcher has ever had but he was a winner, a champion. For that reason alone Pedro Martinez doesn't even belong in the conversation. Martinez was on one championship team, the 2004 Red Sox. But overall his post season career is best defined by 3 words. "Who's Your Daddy? Koufax owned the post season, not the other way around. One last thing. Keep in mind there was no LCS when Koufax played. There was no second place wild card stuff. He pitched two years in a row on two days rest to put the Dodgers in the series. If he doesn't win those high pressure games, his legacy as well as the Dodgers isn't the same. he delivered when the money was on the table. Sandy Koufax simple the best ever.
Mryrhodesian I saw Sandy Koufax twice once in 1960 and in 1961. This was at the Coliseum. I was 10. In 61 he pitched against Juan Marichal. Both pitched complete games I sat on the first base side watching him warm up and then pitch, listening to Vin Scully on the radio. with all the Giant greats, Mays, MCcovey, Cepeda, also the boys of Brooklyn, all of them. I could ramble on I will never forget 6/3/61
Pedro had trouble with the Michael J. Fox types like a Biggio, Scott Brosius, and others. They could creep into him. But he could beat the Chuck Connors type like a McGuire or Sosa or Killebrew. Sandy could beat both. However, speed guys like Lou Brock threw him off at base if they got on.
My two cents: I think Koufax was one of the best to ever take the mound. His post season accomplishments are truly remarkable. I still want to defend Pedro, with no disrespect meant to Sandy. Sandy got to pitch half his games at L.A., a pitchers park if there ever was one, especially at night. The ball did not carry well. He also got to face a pitcher as one of the nine hitters. Most hitters were punch and judy, intent on making contact and little else. The 60's was a weak hitting decade. Pedro pitched in the steroid era, where hitters were routinely putting up 30 bombs, 100 rbi's and hitting .300. He also pitched half his games at Fenway, not exactly a pitcher's paradise, yet he totally dominated. Please keep these in mind when you want to mention dumb quotes - it needs to be factored into the conversation.
shrapnel77 I did say that Pedro did well against “sluggers.” He always seemed to intimidate those guys. Bonds and McGuire never got comfortable with him. Speed guys just never got on base with Pedro or if they did, they never seem to steal a base. It’s those slap hitters with a little power because you can’t bully those. Sandy took out the sluggers in Game 7 of the ‘65 Series and those Jimmie Hall and Bernie Allen. But Lou Brock guys and Maury Wills would have given him trouble had he pitched against him.
I was lucky enough to be 10 years old when the 1963 World Series. Mickey Mantle was my player/idol, Sandy Koufax was my year younger brothers idol. Boy what a time in our house we had at that time. Both of us actually got to Dodger Stadium/Chavez Ravine to see those players live. One night it was the Yankees against Angels and my father got us tickets in Center Field, the Next night it was the Dodgers against the Giants with Koufax on the mound and we were behind first base/ unfortunately though way up high. Didn't matter though.
No doubt Sandy was fantastic but in his next world series appearance Mantle homered and Whitey Ford outpitched Sandy and lost a two hitter on Joe Pepitone's throwing error. GAME 4
Striking as well, imo, about Sandy Koufax is the generosity he extended Chicago’s starting pitcher, who also pitched the finest game of his career this night, taking pains in the postgame interviews to salute Bob Hendley’s magnificent one-hit performance. Glad I saw this clip. From what I’ve heard Koufax is usually reticent to talk about his career. Re the longevity question, somewhat overdone. Don Sutton is also in the HOF, but he certainly isn’t considered one of the all-time greatest pitchers.
Koufax also pitched complete games, not like the modern pitchers. Also he would pitch on 3 day rest with only have 2 pitches, curve & rising fastball 🤔😉😊
Sandy was the greatest pitcher ever to toe the rubber for six years, but I can't help thinking if he hadn't thrown so many innings during that span, we would've been blessed with his presence in MLB for at least another handful of years.
Yep. Teams would regularly throw about 40-50 a year. The workhorses like Drysdale, Gibson, Marichal, and others were known to toss 270-300 innings a year with 20 plus CGs. I miss those days.
I worked in the Central Coast area of California in the summer of 1978.. Was sitting at the counter of great local cafe in San Luis Obispo, Louisa's, and there was Sandy having breakfast with friends in a booth.. I just smiled and went on with the meal..Great athlete great guy..
Sandy was a man of conviction. He refused to pitch on his holy holiday. This was never done before and got great media attention at the time. Drysdale pitched in his absence and got tatooed. Later stating he wished he were Jewish.
The BEST ever. When I met Pete Rose and asked him who was the toughest pitcher he'd ever faced, without hesitation, he said Koufax. He added that Gibson and Marichal would throw at you...Koufax never threw at you. He beat you fair and square.
Koufax average one hit batter every 528 plate appearances, lowest among 25 HOF pitchers I looked at. By comparison, Marichal hit one every 356 PAs, and Gibson one every 158 PAs. Drysdale was third on my list with one every 92 PAs.
If you didn't see him, you just don't know. BTW, game 4 of that Dodger sweep vs NY, Mantle took Koufax deep with a line drive homer to left that Koufax said was that hardest hit ball off him that year. Imagine His 100 mph fastball meeting The Micks powerful swing.
Your comment made the hair on the back of my neck stand up - you are SO right. I am glad I got to see them both play (on TV). This modern era is SO different in so many ways.
I’m a Life Long Cardinal fan and their announcer on radio for many years was Jack Buck. His baseball knowledge was remarkable . I’m 65. Mr. Buck was asked who the greatest pitcher he ever saw. Well, I stood up and took notice when he said Sandy Koufax..
Koufax won Game 1 and 4. Drysdale won #2 and Podres won #3 with relief help from Perronoski. I'm from Philly but remember that awesome four game sweep against the Yankees. Koufax was the best pitcher that I ever saw
Sandy Koufax and Vin Scully in the early 60’s made me a lifelong Dodger fan, not to mention that was born in LA County. I also liked Don Drysdale because I got a lot of crap over my name until he got famous.
I watched the 1963 World Series when Koufax was unbeatable. Mantle's home run in the fourth game was a rocket so fast that the TV cameraman didn't swivel fast enough. I was surprised no one was hurt. I've often wondered how Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams would have fared against Koufax. He couldn't have been that much faster than Bob Feller in his prime, and Feller also had a great curve. Anyway, I've never seen a pitcher so dominant as Koufax, more unbelievable when you think he had arthritis!
I REMEMBER LISTENING TO DODGER BASEBALL AS A KID . I REMEMBER LISTENING TO ALL HIS NO HITTERS . WHAT A HUMBLE PERSON HE IS . ATHLETES TODAY NEED TO EAT SOME SANDY KOUFAX HUMBLE PIE AND JUST THANK GOD FOR THEIR GIFTS .
Sandy Koufax and Jim Brown were my first two athletic idols. I don’t think I could have picked two better men, though I confess not to have been thinking in those terms back then.
In the perfect game on 9/9/65, the last three innings of which I heard on the radio, Koufax was matched against a left handed pitcher named Bob Hendley. Hendley only gave up one hit, and that hit was not involved in the Dodgers scoring its only run in a 1-0 victory. Five days later on 9/14/65 Hendley matched up again against Koufax and defeated him and the Dodgers 2-1.
Lou Johnson got the 1 hit and a walk that ended with him scoring on a throwing error. Only game in history with only 1 hit and 1 baserunner (Johnson both times)
I am 82 years old and I keep coming back to this video. I saw 3 beautiful things in all those years that really have stuck with me, my wife when she was pregnant, my children when they were sleeping and watching Sandy throw a fast ball. And especially watching him strike out Mickey. Pete Rose had some things to say about Sandy's curve ball. Watching Sandy was just poetry in motion, fluid, smooth......
Just beautiful...
Simple unforgetable.
this was beautiful
Let's not forget The Mick hit a line drive home run off of Sandy in that series.
@@guymevers9782 I saw that. If memory serve me well it was to straight centre, fast ball and the run was meaningless.
I was working at the ticket counter for a major airline in Orlando in 1985...I got to wait on Sandy he was a remarkably nice person although I knew who he was we never discussed baseball..he didn't no me but he asked about how I was doing and how was my family doing...we talked for about ten minutes and wished each other well..when he walked away he walked by several people on his way to the gate...nobody in the terminal recognized him..I told my co workers there goes one of the best pitcher in baseball history and nobody knows who he is!!!..WOW
..he gave me alot of thrills as a young fan...I cried a tear when he retired.
What a wonderful experience...in interviews he always seemed to be so self composed and well spoken. IMO he was the best I ever saw.
You stated that nobody knew who he was. That’s probably just the way Sandy wanted it.
Mikeforte7585, VERY cool story my friend! Sandy Koufax actually still has His home down south of my area about 55-miles or so. When the Dodgers still had spring-training in Vero Beach, I used to LOVE going down to watch the Grapefruit League "Baby-Dodgers" play at Holman Field. Yup, I even wore one of my "SF-GIANTS" caps down there a lot too, & never had any problems. During this time I also purchased on official players cap that was Dodger-Blue, with "V B" initials on the top of a grapefruit. Still have that cool cap too, always will, + sometimes HOPING that the Dodger organization will return there some day? I never saw Sandy at any of the games I watched then, but I knew He was reported as attending them on occasion. And relating to His preferred "anonymity;" very true, and the cool thing is that the folks down in Vero are still very good about just leaving the guy alone, sometimes even "running some interference" for Him when such circumstance arise.
@@DCG550 Absolutely! See my comment above?
Sandy Koufax - a name synonymous with greatness & having had a phenomenal career !
No pitcher ever had a more beautiful motion. Poetry in motion
Tom seaver had a better pitching motion call Warren Spahn or Steve Carlton
@@danielshanetzky3714 It's in the eye of the beholder.
@@ron88303 warren spahn was much better
@@ron88303 warren spahn was the best
@@danielshanetzky3714 He was certainly one of the best to me. If you think he was the best; that’s fine, too.
The deep South is a long way from L.A. However, because of Sandy Koufax and specifically the '63 World Series, an 11-year old kid in Mississippi became a lifelong Dodger fan. To this day, despite all the stadiums visited and games I covered with my career, those Koufax-Drysdale-Wills-Davis, etc. teams of the mid-60's stand out as vividly if they were played last season. The best lefty ever. Period. Thanks Sandy!
Sandy Koufax was much more than a baseball player. He was a dignified gentleman. Pure class. Plus for six years he was the greatest pitcher of all time.
Maybe the American League should have arranged to have the World Series played over Yom Kippur every year.
@roberteaston6413 Big D took Sandy's place during that situation and bombed out, seven runs against him after a few innings. As Alston took the ball at the mound Drysdale commented, "Gee, Skip, I bet you wish I were Jewish too".
@@MarkBryant-sd8cj Ah HAHAHAHA!! Brother Mark, I've always thought that I know/knew a ton of folklore regarding both the Giants and Dodgers cultures, but, I "thought?" -which obviously is not true (And yes, I thought I was very familiar with most of Twin-D's sometimes hilarious quips?) Until you mentioned it here, I NEVER knew Twin-D made that VERY funny crack! Speaking of which, when (very sad!) the National League went with the weeny DH-option last season, my first thought was, "Drysdale has gotta be rolling in His grave!" Remember back when on some of His days when He wasn't pitching, & Alston would stick Him in as a pinch-hitter? Yup, Twin-D could also hit hell out of the ball too!
Sandy is right up there with Stan Musial, Willie McCovey, and a few other superstars who embodied grace, humility, and class throughout their careers. I've been a Giants fan my entire life but have always had nothing but deep respect for Koufax. In a decade of brilliant pitching featuring Gibson, Marichal, Drysdale and even Denny McClain for a couple of years, Sandy was the best.
Thank you from a lifelong Dodgers fan. I want to add that Willie McCovey was always a gentleman, I feared him but never "hated" him because he was a "dirty Giant". Seriously, when McCovey came up to bat against the Dodgers it used to scare the hell out of me. I also never hated Willie Mays, he was just a once in a lifetime along with Hank Aaron.
Amen. Lifelong Card fan here, but I always felt that from 1963-1966, Sandy was the absolute best I ever saw.
Agreed. As much as I wish to place Juan Marichal in a similar greatness bucket, Sandy Koufax was designed differently. Whether the regular season or in World Series games, no one was better than #32. Koufax remains the best.
@@OldRustySteele OldRusty, spent part of my childhood in the midwest back then, & watched LOTS of Cards-games on TV. As I've mentioned in previous comments, I be a lifelong GIANTS fan, but oh my! Those "Red Birds" were awesome back then. Gibby, Lefty, but my favorite Card was/is Tim McCarver; da "Clutch-Man" who not only was a great catcher, but could hit absolute hell out of da ball when it really mattered! And He was/is my by far, my favorite sportscaster-color commentator as well. RIP "Tim McCarver!" (RE: "Lefty above? For those (other than Rusty of course) who don't recognize this nic-name, "Lefty" = the great "Steve Carlton," and a further note: Lefty ALWAYS preferred McCarver to catch Him; the prime reason why both were on the Phillies together after trades!)
@@martinbachmann6283 Hi Martin. You bet! Timmy Mac, the pride of Memphis! Tough as nails behind the plate and AT the plate in the clutch. And, like you, I enjoyed his commentary on telecasts. Really did a deep dive on strategy and situational play.
We lost 2 beloved Cards last year - McCarver and Mike Shannon. Shannon was a hometown boy. We lived in the same Catholic parish back in the late ‘60’s when I was a teenager. (Back when ball players didn’t make 48 zillion a year and lived near us “regular folk”!!)
BTW, did you used to jam with a fellow named Turner, takin’ care of business in Overdrive ?!? 😂
Cheers,
Ol’ Rustbucket
He had the most beautiful pitching delivery of all time - look at the extension he got, the ball is nearly touching the ground when he rears back to fire, and the way he points his right toe at first base and then comes striaght over the top! So perfectly elegant! Never seen anything like it since.
Steven, I agree 100%!
Great description! I'd rank Herb Score's pre-injury delivery close to or the equal of Koufax's. I saw them both pitch
@@r.crompton2286 Score was Koufax before Koufax.
Sandy's motion is identical to a computer generated "perfect" pitching motion.
Like a big cat.
I saw Sandy Koufax Pitch as a kid at Dodgers stadium. He was the most dominating pitch I ever saw, the greatest of em all.
@MANCHESTER UNITED ur stupid af
@MANCHESTER UNITED why you here
@@kuppday7052 , Ive seen the same stupid post on multiple baseball related videos. He's a troll. We in the USA prefer our own sports. The Man U can suck it!
Manchester!!! If you continue to disrespect the great game of baseball, it's high time you leave this site and direct your comments to your cronies in the UK. We don't need you here any longer.
I saw him in St. Louis...All-Time Favorite!!
We all loved Sandy Koufax and the entire Dodger Organization. Our whole Family followed our Dodger Team year after year. That is why he is recognized in the Game of Baseball. Thank you Sandy as you are one of the best.
There was no one like him and no one since . There may have been better pitchers, but no one was so hodd and yet so honorable
in the way he played. Sandy wasn't just a great ball player, he is a class act.
No pitcher was better than Koufax. He had the best breaking ball ( curveball ) ever as told by the world's best baseball players and a 98 mile an hour moving fastball, he was the best of the best.
@@winterguitarkingyea Yeah, the movement on his pitches is what separates him from the others.
@@johnnypastrana6727 I agree with you Thanks. I stood behind Johnny Roseboro #8 Catcher for the Dodgers. I watched Koufax Fan Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and one other player on 9 pitches he made em look silly. Koufax was a Super Star All Time Greatest Pitcher. and Class role model. What A Champion He was. I was like 10 years Old watching that.
Indeed
@@winterguitarkingyea How wonderful to have that experience...Koufax was one of a kind for sure.
I had an opportunity to meet Harmon Killibrew... l asked him about game 7 of the world series and what was being felt on the Twins bench.
Koufax pitched a 2 hitter on only 2 days rest...throwing mostly fast balls as his elbow was too sore to throw a curve... and Mr. Killibrew said it was the greatest game he ever saw pitched.
By the way, l became an admirer or Harmon Killibrew after that..(he got one of the hits that game)..incredibly humble..
Willie Stargell said he would get asked all the time what it was like to hit off Koufax. His reply was simply "You ever try to drink coffee with a fork?"
I'm 76 years old; I've seen a lot of great pitchers over those years; I've never seen anything like Koufax; he was as un-hittable as it gets; also a great representative of the game (and life in general)....a lot of class.....my 2nd pick for un-hittable was Nolan Ryan.
Like 7 times.
Agree with you on both pitchers, Ian, though Koufax was a far better pitcher than Ryan, who lost almost as many as he won. He was sure hard to hit, though.
That's the thing about Ryan that just puzzles me to death. How could a guy be that dominant and not have a better win-loss record? Did he get very little run support for the majority of his career? I wish someone could explain it to me in great detail... Lol
@@oldiesgeek454 He played on terrible teams. That was the problem
@@oldiesgeek454 Baseball is a team game. To have a winning record, the rest of the team has to hit. Perhaps the only pitcher who could do it all on his own, was Babe Ruth.
And we now know that every fastball takes a little more out of a player's arm. So when we see players like Ryan who lasted so long, it's even more amazing.
I love Sandy Koufax! He's the greatest!
rina.schwarz@outlook.com Someone at work wanted to fix me up with Sandy Koufax and I told him I wasn't interested. Silly me. Curious to know how it would have turned out.
5 great years doesn't make you one of the greatest...dodger priviledge
@@fredwright5954 Ah nope, you're slightly mistaken here; and it was a "6-year span," and NOBODY before, or SINCE could match that specific time-frame event. And no, it certainly will not occur in the future either; too many prima-donna types in MLB today, the DH (< Disgusting!) in the National League now, which means any even close approach to Koufax's record will have to have a silly * (< asterisk) next to it! MLB started to become ruined way back in '66-'67 when the pitchers-mound was lowered 6-inches, & then along comes the totally weeny "DH" provision? Can hardly watch MLB anymore. 😡 😭
It’s November 10, 2024 and Sandy Koufax is the greatest living baseball player.
No, he isn't. Shohei Ohtani is clearly the greatest living baseball player. This season he became the first player in history to hit over 50 homers and steal over 50 bases. He is also an outstanding pitcher who didn't pitch this season because he is recovering from surgery. Koufax was a great pitcher, but was not even a decent hitter or a threat on the bases. Ohtani clearly is a better all-around baseball player than Koufax.
@ Certainly the greatest living “active“ baseball player with 250 some odd home runs in his career. Sandy Koufax is the greatest living baseball player.
@@philippesauvie639 Maybe Koufax is the greatest living retired player, as he did not possess Ohtani's all-around skills.
My dad took me to Wrigley in '65 to see him pitch ...
When he came out to warm up, everybody stopped, stood up and applauded ... for just warming up!
Willie Mays has said repeatedly that every time he faced Koufax he knew exactly what he was going to throw and still had "no chance". I look at his curve and am still in utter awe of that break. The guy was without question the GOAT, totally unhittable at his peak. And his .95 era in the postseason seals further discussion on the matter.
Yeah, Sandy's curve was a thing of beauty that defied the law of physics...the break was straight downward.
@Mitchell D They got "jelly-legged".
Mays did manage to hit five home runs off him 😏
@@johnnypastrana6727 Koufax was so well known for his fastball, people forget he had the best curveball in baseball.
I just heard that Bob Gibson died tonight. He was an outstanding pitcher. But I truly believe that Sandy Koufax was one of the greatest pitchers of all time! Koufax is the the all-time best pitcher whose career ended early due to a bum elbow! We should all be proud of what he accomplished.
I remember watching Bob Gibson on TV with my dad. We both liked and respected him, he didn't screw around between pitches and one hard nosed guy. Great to watch as well. Rest in Peace Mr.Gibson.
I was one of four (seemingly Okie, bare-footed and WASP white) boys growing up in central valley CA in the late 50's and 60's. We were all baseball mad, and we all rooted for different teams.
Our older brother was a Mickey fan for the Yankees, the #2 boy loved Yogi and Sandy, I was a Giants fan living and dying for what Willie did each day, and the youngest loved Hank Aaron and the Braves. We all sang the praises of (while not rooting for) Clemente, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Don Drysdale, and Robin Roberts, while Warren Spahn, Whitey, Lou Burdette, and Juan Marichal were household gods. What a great time for baseball.
Our dad (paralyzed with polio) never allowed politics or religion at the dinner table, but there were lots of friendly insults and digs about baseball. He loved it. He started listening to Dodger games in the late 50's when Sandy was wild as a hare, but then learned to control his pitches. The rest was a short but VERY sweet history.
We ALL agreed that in that time period, no pitcher could be placed in the same rank as Koufax. He WAS the best.
@@kevinrussell1144 Brother Kevin, absolutely AWESOME Dad you had (< and still have when we all go to da BIG ballpark in the sky some day) my friend! Would have LOVED having dinner with your family back then too! Yup, GIANTS fan here too, though I always liked the DODGERS too? I won't list any of the GIANTS players' names ( you know them all just like me anyways) but just one - "Bobby BONDS." Along with the rest, I really loved this guy, & he could play "baseball" > I add italics to the word on purpose because Bobby sure was EONS better than His infamous son? During the time your family resided in "Central Valley" California, our family lived up in Northern Calif from 1959-66. That's when I really began being a true MLB fan. Thanks VERY much for sharing a GREAT family story/culture with the rest of us too!
@@martinbachmann6283 Thanks for the kind reply. I'll bet your family experienced some very similar happenings.
I married an SF girl (just had lunch with her). She recalls a writing assignment in grammar school titled: "Why Willie Mays is the Greatest ballplayer of all time".
Most of my friends growing up, however, were Vin Sculley-Dodger fans, but I, too, loved the Dodgers.....the Davis boys, Maury, Wally Moon, the great Jim Gilliam, Johnny R....all good times.
Thanks, friend, for helping us all think back on those simpler times.
Colfax only 164 games that doesn't make them worthy of the caliber of Bob Gibson who dominated for whole decade not just three seasons
To this day, Sandy was, and is ,in a class by himself!!🥰 I'm 71 years old. I've seen A LOT of MLB pitchers. I'm a lifelong Yankees and Cubs fan but Koufax is the greatest hurler that I ever laid eyes on!!! 🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🥰🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Agree 1000%
@@roncaruso931 🥰🇮🇱🇺🇲 Two of the greatest to ever play the game. 🇺🇲🇮🇱🥰🥰🥰
As a child, I grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, a third generation (at least) Yankee fan. It was unquestionable to me that the Yankees were invincible. Then one day I sat down to watch the opener of the 63 World Series. Whitey set down the first 3 Dodgers. I was comfortable. Then the cool and confident Koufax took the mound and began throwing rockets... and my world perspective was shaken. He pitched 2 complete games, allowed 3 runs, and struck out 23. It seemed to me that he struck out everyone. Never seen anything like it - before or after. Respect.
Shutting down the Cubbies line up in 1965 included three hall of famers. What an amazing athlete Koufax was. What is remarkable about him is that he never pitched until he was 15 years old. It took him a few years to get his stride but when he did there was none better. Thanks for uploading this!!
Got his book, in the 2nd grade, Life and times of Sandy Koufax...and still have it to this day...that was 1966......I'm 62....grew up during the best times of baseball ⚾️
When you get a chance pick up the book by the brilliant Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax, A lefty's Legacy. Every other chapter covers each inning of his perfect game. Wonderfully woven into his life story.
Not too shabby right now
Ha! I still have that book
Is there a historic moment Vin Scully didn't call? Man I could listen to him read the phone book.
And it would be another half century before the Cubs would (finally) fall victim to a no hitter (Cole Hamels, July 25th, 2015-Philadelphia Phillies 5, Chicago Cubs 0).
Yeah, he was incredible
SBagLenny-You'd probably get enthralled by listening to Scully talking in his sleep.
I wish vin would have narrated old war footage.
@@brandocalrissian3294 You know something? I never thought of that - Vinny would have been AWESOME at that!
As a kid ( 67 now) my dad bought me a "45" with Vin Scully calling the last inning of Sandy's perfect game, I can't say how many times I listened to it but I can say everytime i did i had goose bumps , Vin Scully was to broadcasting what Michaelangelo was to painting.
Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Carry, Ernie Harwell...that whole era of baseball broadcasting was truly great.
against the Cubs. The last out was Chris Krug
@@Mr4stringer Harvey Kuenn.
Same here. "Two and two to Harvey Kuenn" is a phrase I've passed down to my two boys..
koufax's last 4 years are simply amazing, the 4 no hitters of course from 1962 to 1965. but from 1963 to 1966 he was 97-27 - a .782 winning percentage. an era of 1.86 over 1192.2 innings. 31 shutouts and 1228 strike outs. 1.03 strikeouts per inning for almost 1200 innings. still 8th overall of guys who've pitched 12 years or more. it's one thing to be a flame thrower, but another to be winning 25, 26, and 27 games a season. he had a combined 54 complete games in two consecutive seasons, 1965-66. and had it not been for missing about 12 starts in 1964 these numbers would be even more astounding.
In his early years he should have been in the minors but the Dodgers had to keep him on the roster because he is what they use to call a bonus baby. He finally put it all together with zero minor league experience! Then he had to retire while he was still young with arthritis in his elbow. Who knows what he could have done? He's still the greatest lefty pitcher ever and you can argue he was the greatest pitcher righty or lefty ever!
@@df5295 sandy had control problems early on, and he admits himself his approach was to just throw harder rather than learn how to pitch, he walked 8 batters in his first start. maybe some time in the minors would have helped, would have definitely taken some pressure off, but it's all about the pitching coach depending on where you are.
even so koufax didn't like the way he was being used, so despite needing time in the minors, and who knows how that would have ended, koufax wanted more starts, and off the short leash that walter alston had him on.
so he struggled for 6 years, amazing to me the dodgers never gave up on him, alston had less than full confidence in koufax's ability to throw strikes. koufax had actually demanded to be traded, not sure how that all got defused but i've heard numerous people told a stubborn alston to stop messing with koufax and just give him the ball, everyone else saw his potential.
and who would have predicted the next 6 years? no one did.
Sandy was also a great basketball player. We both attended Lafayette High School in Brooklyn. I played baseball there and was a few years behind him. Naturally, we always talked about him and John Franco another Lafayette alumnus. Lafayette had a great tradition of players. Bobby and Kenny Aspromonte, Ron Solomini and about 8 others that went to the majors. Regrettably, I never met a curve ball that I liked.
My Father in Law's first cousin was the pitcher for the Cubs in his no hitter. His name is Bob Hendley
I’m a lifelong STL Cardinal fan. Been watching baseball since 1963, which of course means I watched Bob Gibson in his prime. If I had one game to win like, for example, the 7th game of the World Series, my choice would be Sandy Koufax.
From 1963-1966, Koufax was the very best pitcher I’ve ever seen. Period.
Imagine Gibby and Sandy as Cardinals pitchers!
Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson struck out just 22 times in 630 at bats during the 1963 season. Koufax fanned him THREE TIMES the first game of the 1963 World
Series....
Pretty solid argument right there.
Baby Boomer, native NY'er, and Yankee fan since Game 7 of the 1960 World Series (Mazeroski made this 8 year old cry😪) and seeing Koufax strikeout Yankee after Yankee was tough to see. A formidable Yankee lineup with Mantle, Maris, Howard, Tresh, and Richardson was tough to see. And Bobby Richardson was an excellent contact hitter. I "think " Koufax actually struck him out 4x. I'm going to check the baseball almanac.
You are CORRECT ! Richardson fanned 3x. Just checked the almanac.
LordofDublin4 Thanks. But I cannot feel sorry for you’ve given 1951, 1952, 1953 (against arguably the best Brooklyn Dodgers team of all time), 1956, 1958, 1961, and 1962.
I replayed the 1963 series in Advanced Strat-o-Matic Baseball and Koufax won three games as the Series went six games. But Richardson never stuck out more than once in a game...
@@jpeterrich.... I have been fortunate to have witnessed many great Yankee years and players. I have no complaints. The M & M boys, Berra , Ford, Elston Howard, Guidry, Lyle, Gossage, Jeter, Ruvera .....it's good for baseball that the Yankees put a good team on the field. That's why they always are the #1 road team in attendance. The league wants to beat the Yanks and so do their fans.
He looks beautiful. Man what a arm. I missed all those great 1960's pitchers. Saw some great ones in Ryan and Guidrey
From 1961 to 1966...Koufax MIGHT have been the best ever...too bad about his arm....Sandy was beautiful to watch!!!
The curve ball ruined his arm. He should have developed other pitches. Poor coaching on the Dodgers.
Today he could have had a 20 year career but the manager would'nt allow him to pitch past the 5th inning and shut him down after September 5th.
1963-1966
Don’t feel bad for Sandy. Part of his incredible legacy is walking away from the game at the peak of his career.
THE BIGGEST PART OF SANDY'S GREAT CAREER WAS THAT..."HE WAS SO HUMBLE"👍
and shy
There was a time where it 'called' for him to throw at an opposing Giant because Marichal threw at one of the Dodgers. Roseboro and Koufax were talking about it and Koufax said he couldn't bring himself to do it. To which Roseboro replied, no problem, I'll take care of it and make a throwing motion so it passed closely by Marichal's head when he threw the ball back to Koufax and a fight broke out. (at least that's how I understood the story).
Vin Scully used to say whenever he did something great, he'd look down like "maybe he had done something wrong."
@@3dbadboy1 You have the story correct; Koufax wouldn't purposely throw at anyone, + always felt bad if He accidentally did nail someone? But Johnny Roseboro.... He was giving Marichal an old-time "Sal 'The Barber' Maglie" close shave (< in the opposite direction) for sure. and then whack! Juan bops Roseboro with that damned bat.
Ah, I was there. I'll never forget it. Now, I shed a tear just thinking about it.
In the 1963 World Series, the Yankees scored a total of 4 runs. The length of the games were: 2:09, 2:13, 2:05, and 1:50. Yes, Koufax set down the Yankees in the 4th and deciding game in way less than 2 hours! It is hard to imagine.
I remember reading about a MLB game in the early days of baseball that was 58 minutes long...that almost seems impossible
No interminable TV commercials.
I'm a Cubs fan, but I admire Sandy! LOVE seeing Ron Howard/Richie Cunningham talk what it meant to him. Say it,Red! What Fonzie would say!
Not hard to imagine if you lived in those days and loved baseball.
after game 1 of the 1963 world series when koufax struck out 15, (the first 4 batters 9 times) yogi said, "i can see how he won 25 games, what i don't understand is how he lost 5.". maury wills would reply, "he didn't, we lost them for him."
Koufax's perfect game against the Cubs set a ML record for fewest hits in the game-one.
I saw Koufax pitch and lose a game 2 - 1. He gave up a 2-run home run and not much else. But the Dodgers were held to the 1 run.
Those Dodger teams didn't score many runs. They won because they had Koufax and Drysdale!
@@df5295 which was true of the era, not just the dodgers, bob gibson used to get angry about the same thing, the cardinals not giving him enough runs. for some reason i can't find a record of gibson vs. koufax. now there's a ticket you'd frame.
Sandy Koufax is one of the top 3 greatest pitchers of all time !
I saw him pitch at Crosley .
Everyone in the stadium was in awe of his greatness.
Fastball was incredible ;
His mechanics were perfect.
A class act ; even walking off the mound back to the dugout ; you knew you were witnessing the best !
I was 12 years old . Won the MVP of my little league team ; got my picture taken with the mayor of Indpls. my hometown .
Will never forget how special it was ;
watching one of the greatest athletes in the history of all sports.
Thank you Sandy for being a total class act in everyway , a human being could be.
All of these arrogant, loud in your face athlete's; don't have a clue
how damaging there negative actions have on youth ; & all people !
I remember listening to Vin Scully calling that game on the radio and each instant he would announce the exact time it galvanized your attention and made you realize that something important was happening. It was like he was giving a countdown for the launch of a rocket to a world you'll always remember, and I have always remembered it.
Three great windups I loved-- Sandy Koufax, Warren Spahn and Juan Marischal
Gibson was pretty cool too
Edward Lyon warren Spahn had a long one
And Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver.
Luis Tiant
Herb Score
Sandy Koufax was the most exciting pitcher in MLB
How I not seen this before? He was legendary
Short career but the very best of all time. Every start was a potential no-hitter.
I was there, at age 14- Sept. 9, 1965, sitting aways down the third base line with my dad- my first hero in life- as my second and last hero pitched his way into history I remember Vin Scully's call echoing through Dodger Stadium from my transistor radio- and thousands of others radios, cranked all the way up. Sandy struck out the side in the eighth, and again in the ninth- a feat as fabulous as his final perfecto- and then 31,000 blue seat cushions flying up into the air as Vin spoke the immortal words, "Swung on and missed- a perfect game!." No pitcher has ever had such a windup- a true thing of beauty. And no athlete in any sport has ever been as classy an act. The Sportsman of the Century, hands down...
Tomsmith7742 Brother Tom, oh my! What an AWESOME experience to have, especially with your Dad too. Would have LOVED to have been at that scenario! My best friend in college (< an absolute main-line sports junky) was from Oxnard, Calif. He and His Dad did a LOT of that down at Dodger Stadium too. How I envy you guys!
@@martinbachmann6283 Thanks Martin- Over the years, I managed to lose my ticket stub, so I can't prove I was there. But the memory is just as clear as ever.
My favourite player by far...
Love his humility...
I was at this game with my father and my brother on my birthday. I kept score pitch my pitch inning by inning on the souvenir program. For anyone my age and for people all throughout Los Angeles . . .Vin Scully and Sandy Koufax . . . without one you do not fully have the other.
Many, many great pitchers, but Koufax was the BEST!
Dom Brunelli-Maybe so, but Koufax never threw 110 shutouts like the great Walter Johnson. Of course, Koufax didn't pitch as long as the Big Train, and was completely inconsistent starting out.
saw him pitch n Houston against The Astros when the dome first opened, it was in early May. We had excelllent seats on the 3rd base side about 6-8 rows behind it their dugout.
When Kofax threw you could tell i was heat even from there. When he wound up its as if his left shoulder dislocated, it came back so far.
Head up, left knee nearly touched the ground, and it was flaming.
Koufax is a National Treasure!
He had a most incredible pitching motion. I was young but old enough to realize that I was watching one of the all time best.
Sandy and Vin. Quite a combination.
Beautiful stuff to the eyes and ears.
And black and while TV has never looked so gorgeous.
Charleswinokoor6023, oh yes - you be very correct! Our family still had our ol' black&white all the up into the early 70s too. Remember da black&white days when a frame would come up reading: "In Color??"
I loved hearing Ron Howard talk about Scully’s technique as a storyteller. That is of course what would get Howard’s attention.
In a game against the Yanks Koufax threw Mantle one of those pitches that looks like it's going to first base but then breaks over the plate for a called strike. Mantle then turned to the Dodgers' catcher John Roseboro and said "How the f--k's anybody supposed to hit that?" Mantle once said that Koufax was the best pitcher he ever faced.
Should be noted, Mantle hit a homer off Koufax in the fourth and final game, tying him with Babe Ruth's all time World Series homerun record. Mantle went on to hit three more homers in the '64 WS against the Cardinals, setting the all time HR record for World Series.
First of all, Clemons wasn’t a 100 mph thrower. Low to mid 90’s with a great splitter.
Clemens would not power through the hitters of that era any better than Seaver, Marichal, Gibson, Jenkins, each who had over 90 mph velocity.
@MANCHESTER UNITED if soccer's the greatest game why are you always trolling baseball videos? Stupid I guess.
MANCHESTER UNITED F.C soccer sucks!
I RUIN YOUR COMMENTS Roger was enhanced!
Check the first pic. of Viin S. at the microphone. Shot snapped in 1958 or 59....the first years the Dodgers were in L.A. "KMPC" painted on the micr......a station flagship that was a lower power than their next 15 or 20 "glory" years, at which time the major affiliate flagship stn. was 50 KW clear channel KFI....which came in like gangbusters at night all over the west coast. I remember tuning in to Dodger games in my Perham dorm at Wash. St. Univ in 1971, at night, along w/ Paul Compton's music show, after the games had concluded.
Doctors Kerlan and Jobe did the best they could for Sandy and it's amazing he was able to last those final years ending in 1966. He endured such pain that pitchers today don't have to suffer. I saw my share of his games and also the September 9, 1965 game..........My birthday is September 7 and that game was a birthday present which is also California Admission Day where school is not in session as it was a Thursday.......Such memories!
TRUE WARRIOR! GAVE HIS HEART!
It's 2020, coronavirus asterisk year. I'm a 65 year old lifelong Jewish baseball fan, a New Yorker. I live in Taiwan now, and on my fantasy baseball team this year, I had both Shane Beiber and Trevor Bauer, who will probably be the 2 Cy Young award winners. Beiber's stats and dominance this year took me back to my youth, and my love and pride in Sandy Koufax. It's Yom Kippur today, holiest day of the year for Jews, and though I'm not religious, I recall with pride when Sandy refused to pitch in game one of the World Series in 1965. He won game 7 on 2 days rest for the championship. He was a man of great integrity, which we could sure use in today's world.
I loved watching Koufax, Drysdale, what duo greatesed of all time !!!
Sandy Koufax was not his birth name he was actually Sandy Braun but his father deserted the family and when his mother remarried, Sandy adopted his stepfather's last name
Kneeman66, and Sandy did a VERY classy thing by doing that too!
Whats even scarier about Sandy was he tipped his pitches. In Ken Burns Baseball series they talk about it. He positioned his arms differently according to the pitch he was going to throw. The hitter knew what was coming Curve, Fastball but they still didn't hit it. Amazing pitcher Mr.Koufax.
@hammer44head: I was lucky to have seen Sandy 3 times between my age 13-`16.years old. 3-0, a 4 hitter, 2 3 hitters. 2 shutouts (the last on in his final year, 66) That Clint Eastwood movie "Trouble with the Curve" ? EVERYONE had trouble with Koufax curveballs when he was on! With that big overhead delivery, that curveball literally exploded like a fastball, that would DROP 2-3 feet down to the batter's knees. A thing of beauty. In slow motion, like a ballet opera. Also, dig your tag name! Having been born in Milwaukee, my 1st ball game was age 3 at Milwaukee Country Stadium in 54. Saw Hammerin' Hank hit a HR that day. He remains my favorite baseball player of all time (Koufax #2, Drysdale #3). And "Bad Henry" --- that is the nickname both Don and Sandy gave him--- is still and People's All Time HR Champ, no matter what number Bonds ended up with.
don riley--- wow that is so cool you got to see Sandy pitch. I was only 5 when he retired. I too also think Hammerin Hank is still the king of swat but my name is a nickname my friends called me and the 44 is because Chuck Foreman of the Vikings was and Jerry West of the Lakers. Cool now I must add Hank to the group!
@@donriley3349 Hank Aaron, true all time Home Run king!!!! Amen to that!!!!
@@hammer44head Brother Hammer, that is a very cool name you have! If you're ever in the central-coastal area of Florida, you can go over to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FLA and watch the "Jupiter HAMMERHEADS" minor-league team play - great stadium to watch baseball in!
Try to envision this: As a kid I was at a Dodgers/Spokane farm club exhibition in Spokane in the 60's. Koufax was already a legend, and I was in a long line of kids waiting to get his autograph. An older, bigger kid muscled his way into the line near the front, just as Koufax happened to look up from where he was signing autographs at the front of the line. All of us saw his eyes lock on the big kid, and everybody went dead quiet. Looking at the kid who crowded in, he said, with no smile on his face, "Son, go to the end of the line and wait your turn." I can tell you, there was no back talk, and no grumble. None. The big kid went to the back of the line, very quickly. As an 11 year old, I enjoyed it thoroughly. At 70 and retired, I still do.
Eeuhuhaaaaaa7728, I just finished taking a screen-shot of your remark. AWESOME story my friend, & thanks for sharing with the rest of us too! (ps: noticed your interesting y-tube name here; I take it your a HUGE fan of Beavis & Butthead? Me too; even though I be in my late-60s now, I always thought, and still think Beavis & Butthead is absolutely hilarious!)
Like they say...everytime Koufax pitched...you had a chance to see a no hitter...OR...a perfect game! Don't compare Pedro to Koufax....you can't...Sandy stands alone!!!
Jim Cushman I was 9 years old when Sandy blew the Yanks away in 1963. BTW, I was (and still am) a huge Yankee fan as well as being Jewish and "The Mick" is still my all time favorite player.
Pedro leaned heavily on his incredible off-speed, a pitch Sandy did not have. I read somewhere that while the throwing mechanics were identical, the difference between his fastball and his off-speed was something like 15 mph, which is apparently unheard of in the baseball world, and I'd believe it, I mean... just look at the results.
Kershaw
Sandy the best big game pitcher in baseball history! Dodgers legend and postseason hero!!
The longevity issue you're making about Koufax is pure bull. If Koufax had only pitched 4 or 5 seasons, that would be one thing. Koufax was THE MOST dominating pitcher for SIX consecutive seasons. In fact, baseball got robbed by losing Sandy to arthritis in 1966. Plus, Koufax dominated and won 26 and 27 games in '65 and '66 with two of the WORST hitting teams I've ever seen win a pennant! Longevity.. bogus argument.
In those years, when Koufax was on, I don't think he ever lost. That is, unless his team behind him crapped it up with errors. The joke I use to hear as little kid was ... Koufax is pitching today. Maury Wills walks. Steals second. Steals third. Scores on a sac fly. Dodgers win.
Yes but what about his previous years? He was not very good
Billy Smith that was no joke, that happened a lot!
@@robertkelly6282 partially true. Until spring training 1961 when he learned to pitch and not just throw although he did have runs in and 1959 where he
Where he put it together but couldn’t sustain.
I was fortunate to see Koufax pitch a couple times at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. My Buccos weren't so fortunate. He stuck their bats up their collective @$$e$ both times.
I don't know how many people know that he and Larry King were childhood buddies. There is a video on YT of King telling "The Carvel Story," where, as teenagers, he and Koufax and a couple other friends drove from NYC to New Haven, because Koufax told them there was a Carvel store there where you could get 3 scoops for 15 cents. It's funny as hell.
2:35: The curveball drops about 2 feet. His fastball explodes as it approaches the batter. Amazing stuff.
+Randy Bailin he had the best fastball in the majors he was the best
His fastball rose up at the plate and his curve broke sharply downward...the movement on his pitches is what separates him from all of the others IMO.
M.D. here: In 1964, before MRIs and CT scans, UCL tears could not be distinguished from elbow arthritis. A Tommy John procedure might have enabled Koufax to pitch 5 more years.
Like so many have said, if you absolutely ought to win a game, your best chance is going with Koufax.
Phillip, you're analysis of Gibson and Koufax is spot on. Gibson and Drysdale.. they literally intimidated hitters with their size and presence on the mound. You knew that when you stepped up to the plate against Gibby that you might get a ball right under your chin, and his look... like he hated every hitter that came up against him... Sandy, on the other hand, never needed to throw at anybody to scare the hell out of them. Either way, it worked... in their hay-day nobody could hit either one.
I'm a Dodger fan and Koufax is the our greatest player of all time. ⚾⚾⚾💙💙💙
I was only five when this happened, but I remember... I can still see that gigantic windup, the glove and throwing arm rising above his head prior to releasing the pitch, the absolutely gigantic throwing stride with his whole body moving forward, almost tearing him off the pitcher's mound. The follow-through with the pitch practically already in the catcher's mitt.
We will never see his like again. Period.
I remember about 40 years ago a young baseball fan asked me if Koufax was really as good as some said .I answered,” For a period of six consecutive years Koufax was the greatest pitcher in MLB history. Simply awesome.”
I've always thought myself.
Just 4 years 1963-1966
Not 6 years --
Dennis Bresee Read the stats for 1961- 1966. 6 years.
Jim Truscott -I wasn’t impressed with 1961-62
In 1966 my father took me to Wrigley Field to see Koufax pitch against the Cubs ...
There were only 15,000 to 20,000 in attendance - but when he came out to warm up, everything stopped ... everyone stood up and applauded.
I remember Mantle commenting about Koufax' stuff. The Mick said: "Yeah, like anybody can hit that shit!" LOL!! Mick did homer off Sandy in the World Series once. I was lucky enough to have watched the 1963 World Series when I was 14 years-old and a lefty pitcher myself on our high school team. I was not a Yankee fan, so when Koufax set a World Series record, (at that time) by striking out 15 Yanks and the Dodgers won the Series, I became a Koufax fan for life! Loved watching him pitch! Sandy Koufax was the greatest I ever saw and I thank God I got to watch him back in the 1960s when he was at his best.
Yep, game 4, Dodgers won 2-1, Mantle homered in the seventh. Many people believe that for 6 to 7 years he was the best pitcher ever. When the best hitters from that era talk about Koufax, it is with total respect. Seemed like a great person, too.
@@ehoffman2260 And he still is a great human being...at least at the time I typed this in 2020.
@@felixmadison5736 I know I’m late and your statement was at least a year old, but a well thought out true statement like yours can withstand the test of time. For the record, I’m a Yankee fan and Mantle was my favorite player, but the truth is the truth. Koufax was the best at that time. Many great hitters with big egos admit they were lucky to even make contact against him.
@@ehoffman2260 I never was a Yankee fan, but Mantle was one of my boyhood idols, along with Whitey Ford. I had the utmost respect and admiration for these two ball players. Mantle was a 'God' to any baseball crazy kid like I was back in the day.
@@felixmadison5736 I guess it has to do with our age, but to my mind that was the best era for baseball. So many great players who were great for at least a decade or more. I realize Koufax had to retire early due to injury, but he may be the best ever. I know there are exceptions, but It doesn’t seem like as many guys stay on top for as long anymore. Maybe it’s the outrageous money they make.
Koufax's delivery was just beautiful to watch. Baseball historians have noted that Sandy tipped his pitches off by how he held his arms before he threw the ball yet it didn't matter cause they still for the most part couldn't hit his pitches anyway. Amazing.
If I had to win one game, I would start Koufax in his prime...
I agree 100%! I'm from Philadelphia and am a Phillies fan (phan?), but Kouax was the best I ever saw and I saw Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton. Steve was great. He won 27 games one year when his team won 59 total! But I still rate Koufax #1 if I need to win one game.
Nope, it would be Bob Gibson.
@@majonari He did say that if HE had one game to win. It's his choice so he isn't wrong. You take Gibson and let's see what happens. I am betting that there wouldn't be a lot of footprints on the base paths.
Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez depending on the line up I was facing.
Whitey Ford, in his prime
Been listening to Cubs games on the radio for 25+ years. On the air, Ron Santo said Sandy Koufax was the best he ever faced.
Damn the Good Old Days when players wore their uniforms with class
Tell me about it
You mean they didn't turn their caps around backwards?
@@mikewhitney8615 That too. One of the many great things about the uniforms of the 60s
@@samuelbarrett5648 So right, Samuel. Loved the stirrups that used to be visible - looked so classy because it was how a ballplayer should look. Hard to beat the unis of the 1950s. Aaron and Mantle always wore it right in the 1950s. I also liked Bob Gibson's long, bright red sleeves, which added great color to that brilliant Cards uniform.
@@mikewhitney8615 The stirrups always make any uniform better. I personally think the 60s is more of the aesthetic golden age of baseball because 1. The players started wearing their uniforms more tailored (Not tight, but not baggy like the 50s), and 2. You had the perfect combination of classic baseball teams and colors and newer, at the time, counterculture colors and teams-all while still wearing wool flannel that made the colors pop and that was worn to make the players look like athletes. If you take the Yankees classic look and the late 60s A's or Pilots, you can see the difference in approach, but all 3 still look like baseball.
(Also, I wish Gibson had worn the bottom of his pants higher to show more if the stripes on the great Cardinals stirrups, but I won't nitpick someone with a 1.12 ERA in 1968 too much)
The most percised Delivery along Drydale , Two of the Greatest . ( me??) A Cardinals fan, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson.
1965 I was 12 years old & Koufax was my baseball idol. I only saw him pitch one time in person & that was the night he pitched his perfect game. I was with my Dad & my Uncle Carl that night at Dodger Stadium sitting in the top deck, a little past the first base side.
Ok
My teenage friends & I used to go to the LA Coliseum frequently during the summer of 1959, to watch the Dodgers play, especially when Koufax was pitching. This summer night the Dodgers we’re facing the SF Giants & their fine veteran pitcher, Sad Sam Jones. The Giants were leading thanks to a 2 run HR by the recently called up rookie, Willie McCovey, who had hit what was probably his first major league HR to put the Giants ahead. Thankfully, the Dodgers tied the game up towards the later innings, & finally won the game in the 9th inning with “walk-off” homer by Wally Moon over the tall 40-50
ft. Screen in LF for what was called a “Moon Shot.” The most remarkable thing that night was the fact that Koufax struck out 18 batters to get the win. To this day, I still kid my younger teenage brother about his decision to stay home to watch “The Untouchables”
stop more criminals that night. John C.
@@johnchristiansen6465 John, one word reply, "Ok?" Um, that's kind of an ignorant bosomheaded reply you give here.
I am 73 yo and was fortunate to see Sandy one time in Atlanta against the Braves in 1966. The best and most artful pitcher I have ever seen. Perfect windup and high leg kick follow through. Of course he won in a complete game. Until Maddog Maddox the best I had ever seen.
I get so tired of feeling that I have to defend Sandy whenever Pedro Martinez is brought up. Sandy is defined not only by the most dominant run a pitcher has ever had but he was a winner, a champion. For that reason alone Pedro Martinez doesn't even belong in the conversation. Martinez was on one championship team, the 2004 Red Sox. But overall his post season career is best defined by 3 words. "Who's Your Daddy? Koufax owned the post season, not the other way around. One last thing. Keep in mind there was no LCS when Koufax played. There was no second place wild card stuff. He pitched two years in a row on two days rest to put the Dodgers in the series. If he doesn't win those high pressure games, his legacy as well as the Dodgers isn't the same. he delivered when the money was on the table. Sandy Koufax simple the best ever.
Mryrhodesian I saw Sandy Koufax twice once in 1960 and in 1961. This was at the Coliseum. I was 10. In 61 he pitched against Juan Marichal. Both pitched complete games I sat on the first base side watching him warm up and then pitch, listening to Vin Scully on the radio. with all the Giant greats, Mays, MCcovey, Cepeda, also the boys of Brooklyn, all of them. I could ramble on I will never forget 6/3/61
Pedro had trouble with the Michael J. Fox types like a Biggio, Scott Brosius, and others. They could creep into him. But he could beat the Chuck Connors type like a McGuire or Sosa or Killebrew. Sandy could beat both. However, speed guys like Lou Brock threw him off at base if they got on.
My two cents: I think Koufax was one of the best to ever take the mound. His post season accomplishments are truly remarkable. I still want to defend Pedro, with no disrespect meant to Sandy. Sandy got to pitch half his games at L.A., a pitchers park if there ever was one, especially at night. The ball did not carry well. He also got to face a pitcher as one of the nine hitters. Most hitters were punch and judy, intent on making contact and little else. The 60's was a weak hitting decade. Pedro pitched in the steroid era, where hitters were routinely putting up 30 bombs, 100 rbi's and hitting .300. He also pitched half his games at Fenway, not exactly a pitcher's paradise, yet he totally dominated. Please keep these in mind when you want to mention dumb quotes - it needs to be factored into the conversation.
shrapnel77 I did say that Pedro did well against “sluggers.” He always seemed to intimidate those guys. Bonds and McGuire never got comfortable with him. Speed guys just never got on base with Pedro or if they did, they never seem to steal a base. It’s those slap hitters with a little power because you can’t bully those. Sandy took out the sluggers in Game 7 of the ‘65 Series and those Jimmie Hall and Bernie Allen. But Lou Brock guys and Maury Wills would have given him trouble had he pitched against him.
Mryrhodesian I find myself always having to bring up koufax when people say Jews aren't athletic.
I'm 70 years old and a prime Sandy Koufax was the best pitcher I ever saw.
I was lucky enough to be 10 years old when the 1963 World Series. Mickey Mantle was my player/idol, Sandy Koufax was my year younger brothers idol. Boy what a time in our house we had at that time. Both of us actually got to Dodger Stadium/Chavez Ravine to see those players live. One night it was the Yankees against Angels and my father got us tickets in Center Field, the Next night it was the Dodgers against the Giants with Koufax on the mound and we were behind first base/ unfortunately though way up high. Didn't matter though.
nice
No doubt Sandy was fantastic but in his next world series appearance Mantle homered and Whitey Ford outpitched Sandy and lost a two hitter on Joe Pepitone's throwing error. GAME 4
@@louispaine820 Two great teams. Boy I did love baseball back then😀
@@coleparker And boy did you have a terrifically GREAT childhood in order to witness all that!
Striking as well, imo, about Sandy Koufax is the generosity he extended Chicago’s starting pitcher, who also pitched the finest game of his career this night, taking pains in the postgame interviews to salute Bob Hendley’s magnificent one-hit performance. Glad I saw this clip. From what I’ve heard Koufax is usually reticent to talk about his career. Re the longevity question, somewhat overdone. Don Sutton is also in the HOF, but he certainly isn’t considered one of the all-time greatest pitchers.
Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton and Jim Palmer would be my all-time starting rotation among modern era pitchers.
I would replace Nolan Ryan with Tom Seaver. Seaver had better control.
What a privilege to have seen one the greatest if not the greatest of all time pitch.
Koufax also pitched complete games, not like the modern pitchers. Also he would pitch on 3 day rest with only have 2 pitches, curve & rising fastball 🤔😉😊
Sandy was the greatest pitcher ever to toe the rubber for six years, but I can't help thinking if he hadn't thrown so many innings during that span, we would've been blessed with his presence in MLB for at least another handful of years.
@@jamesd2128 Complete games were pretty common back in that era. All the really dominant pitchers pitched a lot of complete games.
Yep. Teams would regularly throw about 40-50 a year. The workhorses like Drysdale, Gibson, Marichal, and others were known to toss 270-300 innings a year with 20 plus CGs. I miss those days.
@@eyesonyou99 Add McNally and Palmer. (Yes, I was a young Orioles fan!)
@@basilmarasco1975 I’m still smarting from 1966!!! Great teams you guys had.
I worked in the Central Coast area of California in the summer of 1978..
Was sitting at the counter of great local cafe in San Luis Obispo, Louisa's, and there was Sandy having breakfast with friends in a booth..
I just smiled and went on with the meal..Great athlete great guy..
When Koufax went 25-5 Yogi Berra said I can't believe he lost 5 games
If the Dodgers has some offense in those years he would have won 30.
@@mikep3546 Brother Mike, agree, and Sandy would have had at least a couple three years where He would have gone OVER 30 wins too!
what a beautiful delivery.
Sandy was a man of conviction. He refused to pitch on his holy holiday. This was never done before and got great media attention at the time. Drysdale pitched in his absence and got tatooed. Later stating he wished he were Jewish.
Tell it to his teammates he was a man of conviction if they lost the World Series.
I think I read where Hank Greenberg did not play in a WS game back in the 1930s due to it being Yom Kippur.
Clyde Barrow Hank Greenberg was actually the first not to play on Yom Kippur
@@timfleming3083 Wouldn't of mattered he still got 3 starts and the last two were shutouts. the last on two days rest.
@@timfleming3083 They didn't.
The BEST ever. When I met Pete Rose and asked him who was the toughest pitcher he'd ever faced, without hesitation, he said Koufax. He added that Gibson and Marichal would throw at you...Koufax never threw at you. He beat you fair and square.
Koufax average one hit batter every 528 plate appearances, lowest among 25 HOF pitchers I looked at. By comparison, Marichal hit one every 356 PAs, and Gibson one every 158 PAs. Drysdale was third on my list with one every 92 PAs.
If you didn't see him, you just don't know. BTW, game 4 of that Dodger sweep vs NY, Mantle took Koufax deep with a line drive homer to left that Koufax said was that hardest hit ball off him that year. Imagine His 100 mph fastball meeting The Micks powerful swing.
Your comment made the hair on the back of my neck stand up - you are SO right. I am glad I got to see them both play (on TV). This modern era is SO different in so many ways.
I’m a Life Long Cardinal fan and their announcer on radio for many years was Jack Buck. His baseball knowledge was remarkable . I’m 65. Mr. Buck was asked who the greatest pitcher he ever saw. Well, I stood up and took notice when he said Sandy Koufax..
Koufax won Game 1 and 4. Drysdale won #2 and Podres won #3 with relief help from Perronoski. I'm from Philly but remember that awesome four game sweep against the Yankees. Koufax was the best pitcher that I ever saw
Drysdale's win was a 1-0. I think the Dodgers manufactured a run in the 1st inning and that was it. As a 12 year old I remember watching that game.
Wonder if Ron will tell you that a 6 years old he was making more than Koufax when he was on the Andy Griffith show
Now old Ron is bending over to his Red Chinese movie making paymasters...I am so disappointed in him.
Wow
Sandy Koufax and Vin Scully in the early 60’s made me a lifelong Dodger fan, not to mention that was born in LA County. I also liked Don Drysdale because I got a lot of crap over my name until he got famous.
Donalddowning4108, curious, did you get called "Twin-D" too, very much?
@@martinbachmann6283
Double D! 🤮
I watched the 1963 World Series when Koufax was unbeatable. Mantle's home run in the fourth game was a rocket so fast that the TV cameraman didn't swivel fast enough. I was surprised no one was hurt. I've often wondered how Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams would have fared against Koufax. He couldn't have been that much faster than Bob Feller in his prime, and Feller also had a great curve. Anyway, I've never seen a pitcher so dominant as Koufax, more unbelievable when you think he had arthritis!
It wasn't the speed of Koufax' pitch, it was the movement on his pitches (both fastball and curve) that were unique.
I REMEMBER LISTENING TO DODGER BASEBALL AS A KID . I REMEMBER LISTENING TO ALL HIS NO HITTERS .
WHAT A HUMBLE PERSON HE IS .
ATHLETES TODAY NEED TO EAT SOME SANDY KOUFAX HUMBLE PIE AND JUST THANK GOD FOR THEIR GIFTS .
Sandy Koufax and Jim Brown were my first two athletic idols. I don’t think I could have picked two better men, though I confess not to have been thinking in those terms back then.
Today happens to be September 9th, 2020...57 years ago!
In the perfect game on 9/9/65, the last three innings of which I heard on the radio, Koufax was matched against a left handed pitcher named Bob Hendley. Hendley only gave up one hit, and that hit was not involved in the Dodgers scoring its only run in a 1-0 victory. Five days later on 9/14/65 Hendley matched up again against Koufax and defeated him and the Dodgers 2-1.
Lou Johnson got the 1 hit and a walk that ended with him scoring on a throwing error. Only game in history with only 1 hit and 1 baserunner (Johnson both times)
He was built like a professional athlete 👏 ...rare gem 💎 ✨