For a Six-Year Span, Sandy Koufax Ruled Baseball
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- Опубликовано: 2 апр 2022
- Sandy Koufax's career may have ended prematurely, but there's no denying that at his prime, he was one of the best pitchers ever.
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RIP Vin Scully
In 1965 I lived in Los Angeles and I was 15. If Sandy was pitching I was allowed go to bed with a transistor radio under my pillow so I could hear the game without disturbing anyone. On the last out of the perfect game. I started yelling and my mother came in thinking I was having a nightmare. She left and told my Dad what was going on and he turned his radio on and we listened to Vin Sculley wrap the game.
Wish people today were conscientious of others as that.
My mom was a Detroit Tiger Fan. In 1969 when the Tigers came from behind to win the World Series---my mom would cry whenever one of the Tiger sluggers hit a homer. Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, Willie Horton, etc.. Yes, listening to beisbol games "on a transistor" was a special time and place.
A pitch perfect memory. Wow.
R Grim you just described me exactly. Except I was 14, lived in Portland and listed to Vin every night on AM 570 with a transistor under my pillow (at night the LA station came in loud and clear.) September 9, 1965 (a school night) I heard the perfect game too.
I'm a Cubs fan and there is a legendary story about Cubs 2nd hitter, Glenn Beckert striking out (which he only did maybe 18 times yearly in about 600 at bats) in the first inning and then telling the on-deck man, Billy Williams, "Sandy's got nothing today. I just had a bad at bat. That's all. Go get'em." I believe Koufax threw a perfect game that day in Wrigley.
Sandy Koufax is still the best pure pitcher I ever saw. What he lacked in longevity he made up for in total domination.
@@LoganStryker82 He had the best stuff with his Fastball & Curve!
Don't get out much? 😂 IMHO 4 or 5 years doesn't make a great pitcher.
@@karlheinzvonkroemann2217 Everybody who hit against him said he was the best they ever faced. What do you want, a testimonial from God?
Guys like Koufax made it easy to love baseball. Imagine a pitcher starting 41 games today, much less completing most of them. And he was one the classiest men to ever grace the game.
He was absolutely the best pitcher in the early 60's. I was born in Los Angeles Jan.1952 . In my young boyhood Sandy was my hero as I we listened to Vinny announce the games on radio, and KTTV channel 11 when the Dodgers were on the road in San Francisco. Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Mays, McCovey, Wills , Roseboro, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, and Jim Gilliam. What fantastic memories!
No pitch count either.
My favorite fact about him.... he pitched 3 games in one world series. That's nuts! 3 games, and he finished them.
@@craigwheeler4760 Lew Burdette 1957 and Mickey Lolich 1968 did the same.
@@craigwheeler4760 Harry "The Cat" Brecheen pitched and won three games in the 1946 World Series for the Cardinals. His wins came in games 2, 6, and 7.
At his peak, he was the greatest pitcher I have even seen, and I'm 73. A shame his career was cut short.
I'm 71, I was an 8 year old Brooklyn boy when the Dodgers left for LA, I still hold a grudge! Its an understatement to say that, back then, baseball players weren't paid anywhere near what they're paid today. Many of them had off season jobs and you could run into a player working in a store selling kitchen appliances, hardware, men's suits, insurance, etc..
I'm 75 left handed and Sandy was my Hero - in little league I wanted to be a pitcher and could throw pretty fast but was wild so they put back in Center Field but my first love was pitching.
Thank you guys for sharing your memories of Sandy pitching. You are all in the same age range as my father who grew up in a different country. It must have been exciting living in such an ionic era of legends, let alone such simpler times!
Bro never watched Bob Gibson
@@Sticktothemodels Gibson was great as he would throw hard and inside, but he did not have Koufax OR Tom Seaver stuff lol...
I saw him pitch three times, in New York, versus the Mets. My most vivid memory was watching him warm up. I had seats by third base, which was near the visitor's ball-pen. Sandy was warming up during the pre-game warm ups. The wall obscured most of his body, but I could see his head, his arm, and the pitching motion. The sound of the ball hitting the catcher's mitt - it sounded like a shotgun had gone off each time. And the sound of the ball in the air - the woosh sound. Woosh, pop; Woosh-pop, woosh-pop. In all my life watching baseball, I've never heard a sound like that - ever. I can imagine a hitter trying to face Sandy - hearing the ball wiz by, and then the pop in the catcher's mitt. Intimidating. I rank him as the greatest pitcher ever for a single game. There were pitchers who endured longer, much longer, and were consistently brilliant. But for a single game, a seventh game in a World Series, I'd take Koufax without hesitation.
*bullpen
@@fezzik7619early 1960s sandy koufax didn:t knee a bullpen
@@lloydkline1518 what? I was correcting the guy who called it a “ball-pen”. I wasn’t saying anything about whether Koufax “needed” not “kneed” as you wrote one. I’m well aware of his dominance and the fact that pitchers threw a lot more CGs back then. I’ve been a baseball fan for 40 years.
Koufax, Walter Johnson, Addie Joss, and Christy Mathewson. Best the game has ever seen.
My dad told me that Koufax had what he called his "radio pitch" that could be heard on the radio hitting the catcher's glove. He was right.
A few years ago while attending the US Open tennis tournament in NYC, Sandy Koufax was shown on the JumboTron and received a standing ovation from the fans. He is a great athlete and a class guy beloved by all sports fans. It actually brought a tear to my eye.
Davey Johnson, of the 1966 Baltimore Orioles, once mentioned to Koufax that he was the last player to get a hit off him. Sandy replied, "That's why I retired."
That is hilarious! Glad you shared that
Sandy Koufax actually said "That's when I knew I was washed up."
That last single by Davey Johnson, in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series, was misplayed by Right Fielder Ron Fairly which allowed Johnson to take Second Base!
Earlier in the 6th Inning, Frank Robinson hit a deep line drive into Center Right Field and Willie Davis and Ron Fairly allowed the ball to fall in-between them! and Robinson ended up with a stand up triple.
Boog Powell then singled Robinson in, ending Sandy Koufax's Consecutive Scoreless World Series Innings at 24.
Interestingly, Sandy got out of the 6th Inning with a most unusual double play.
Andy Etchebarren hit into a bases loaded double play -
ground ball to Jim Gilliam at Third Base who threw home to John Roseboro at Home stepping on Home Plate and then threw to Wes Parker at First Base!
Sandy Koufax once told Boog Powell that one wish he had was to pitch Game 2 of the 1966 World Series over again.
I got home from school to watch Center Fielder Willie Davis commit three errors in the 5th Inning!
I was sickened watching Sandy being betrayed by the Dodgers defense!
Sandy tried to console Willie after that dreadful Inning only for Willie and Right Fielder Ron Fairly misplayed a deep fly ball by Frank Robinson which was ruled a Triple.
Boog Powell then singled Robinson home ending Sandy Koufax's Consecutive Scoreless World Series Innings at 24 Innings!
Davy was no slouch. I believe he holds the record for most homers by a second baseman.
The most humiliating HR Sandy Koufax ever gave up was to Bob Ueker. Bob Ueker, a guy with like 12 or 14 HR in his entire Career. A backup Catcher most of the time, hit a HR off Koufax.
I have to think that the closest thing to Koufax I saw was Pedro Martinez in the early 2000s. He was dominant although he did have a tendency to need a break late in the seasons. But of course he was doing his thing in a very offense driven era while Koufax was doing his in a very pitching dominant era. Honestly the most impressive thing I saw Pedro do was coming in the game in relief early and with a sore arm in the playoffs against Cleveland and dominating that strong Indians offense with change ups and off speed stuff. That proved a lot to me because he didn't even have his fastball that night and he still shut that big offense down with just hitting his spots and changing speeds. My Dad got to see Koufax pitch at Crosley Field in Cincinnati from the good seats and he said he was the only guy who threw as hard as Jim Maloney, but didn't walk hardly anyone. Dad also saw Musial , Clemente , Frank and Jackie Robinson ,Kluszewski, Aaron , Mays , Marichal , and of course Rose , Perez and all the other great NL players of the 50s and 60s.
In the early 60's at Wrigley, the ushers would let us kids go down into the box seats and see if we could talk to the players. We had to leave when the game started and we did. It was how you were in those days, your word was everything and when we said we would leave, we did. My friends wanted to go to the Cubs side but I thought we see them all the time so I went to the visitors side. When the Dodgers came in Koufax was pitching and I went down to the wall to watch him warm up. Of all the pitchers I saw warm up those years, no one came close to Koufax. The sound it made when his fastball hit the catchers mitt was unbelievable and made me glad I was not catching. Yeah, he was the enemy, but we all loved him. Being a Cub fan was not easy in those days. We were out of the race by June 1st, and if we lost by less than 3 runs, we considered that a win. I will never forget standing in the hot sun and watching Koufax. I couldn't imagine any one better, and still can't.
I watched Koufax warm up several times and a friend who knew Roseboro said the loud “whack” of his warmup pitches was a little contrived by Roseboro to make the pop louder to intimidate the opposing batters. He wore several extra layers of leather on the inside pocket of his mitt. It also gave his hand extra protection from the beating.
I’ve seen other pitchers who by the gun were faster like Jordan Hicks when he was with the Cards. He could really bring it faster than any pitcher I ever saw in the 74 years I’ve been a fan. Once against the Phillies he was clocked at almost 106. But you never heard the catchers mitt pop like it did with Koufax. Sandy actually slowed his heat down in his best years to master his superb control. He sure didn’t have that before about 1962.
Was fortunate to have seen Koufax in his prime. Armed with a serious heater and a devastating curve, most batters struggled just to make contact! I have seen them all, from Whitey Ford, Ryan, Seaver, Guidry, etc. Pitching every 4 days, No pitcher has ever dominated the game like he did during the 62-66 seasons, no one!
Nice to see that Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale worked together to get paid ... Glad Sandy is still ticking at 86 and RIP to the big guy who died too young at only 56. Great video you made, well done.
Yes indeed, Sandy will turn 87 on December 30, 2022. Hope be has at least another 15 in him.
Saw him several times at Spring Training in Vero Beach Florida. Working with the young pitchers. He graciously signed autographs and always had that million dollar smile. He was a prince of a man, total class act.
Being a Yankees fan, I never have gotten over what happened in the 1963 World Series. My Mom let me stay home from school the day of Game 1 so that I could watch Whitey Ford vs. Sandy Koufax. As I recall, Ford struck out two out three Dodgers in the top of the first. Then Koufax struck out the side . In the Yankee bottom of the second, Koufax continued, striking out the next two batters. Through the years, I've come to appreciate him as the greatest of the first part of the sixties. Too bad that he had to retire so early.
And then the following year in 64, you got to see/hear the Cardinals Bob Gibson carve up the Yanks and pretty much put a final nail in the dynasty.
I'm a die hard Dodger fan and Koufax was my Hero.That said in the 50's and 60's the rivalry between the Dodgers and the Yankee's was great to watch. some of the best all time players on both teams.I got to see Mickey Mantle take batting practice in the early 60's at Dodger Stadium playing the Angels - and he hit a HR in the game. Mickey I think is one of the Greatest Hitters of all-time - especially tape measure Home runs! And I remember the the last game of that 1963 Series Mel Allen couldn't finish the last game and had to leave. I was 14 years old summer of 1961 with Mantle and Maris chasing the HR Record - what a great summer that was.
Whitey Ford had a rough 2nd inning in game 1 of the 1963 Series. He hung a couple of curve balls to Frank Howard and Johnny Roseboro. Going against Koufax, he couldn’t do that if he wanted to win the game.
God bless you, Sandy. You really gave us all you had to give...and I'm glad you retired in time to still use your left arm. You were truly an amazingly gifted baseball figure. p.s. your respect for your religion should never be overlooked. I'm not sure what today's players respect-possibly how many beach houses they can buy/or additional businesses they can start/or women they can go through/or perhaps even steroids they can pop. In your career, every part of your legacy is filled with honor and hard work and sharing. Thank you for what you left behind for we-your fans-to embrace and remember...
Yes, I do still have my Dodger pictures of Koufax and Drysdale from the '63 season, I believe...wish I could share them, here.
VERY well said GeneLeeConcepts!!!!! He was the absolute best in talent, character and commitment. 95% of today's baseball players are useless as human beings!!!
@@GenLeeConcepts Ron Howard said that as a 11 year old boy on the Andy Griffith show in 1965 he made more money than Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale put together.
My favorite pitcher of all time. I started watching baseball in 1959 and followed Sandy's career up to the day he retired. He was definitely one of a kind.
Can’t believe he’s still alive
The greatest pitcher ever--which is hard for me as an Angel fan who would like to argue Nolan Ryan to say. I was lucky enough live in SOCAL and to see them both pitch classics in person, including Sandy's no hitter against the Giants.
For those who say Koufax greatness was too short--only six dominant years, I would refer them to the Beatles who also dominated for 6 years. Sometimes quality greatly outweighs quantity and that is true for both Koufax and the Beatles.
I Played baseball for many years. My pop was not into sports so my mother's brother got me started at a young age.He was a big Yankee fan, but always said Koufax was the best.It absolutely blew my mind watching this because even though I knew he retired at 31 I was Never told by him or anyone about the problem he had with his arm.I always thought he just didn't want to play anymore. I am in shock after seeing this. Oh yeah he was the best, NO DOUBT.
Whoa...that's odd that you played ball, but didn't know about his arm issues. I think what he actually had was not the arthritis, but the ligament issue that could have been fixed w/ Tommy John surgery. If so, they might have called it Sandy Koufax surgery, if Sandy had it done for the initial time / first time.
For those of us who remember those days, we know that Koufax was the most dominant pitcher in the majors in the 1960’s. They’d were other great pitchers: Marichal, Gibson, McLain, to name a few. But Koufax was unquestionably the best of that era. He tipped off his itches and they still couldn’t hit him.
He was before my time but whenever the name/subject Koufax was mentioned, the look and the sound of the room/atmosphere was one of RESPECT by young and old, commoner and great.
I saw him pitch several times growing up in los Angeles. He was something special!!!
Fastball & deathy curve ball pick your poisin
Best pitcher I ever saw.
@@hawk2291 by far!!!
@@lloydkline1518 agreed. His curve was like a ball dropping off a table.
Koufax is overrated. He was average until MLB expanded the strike zone after the '61 season. Pitcher's era's got so ridiculous over the next eight years, that MLB had to shrink it back to the '61 dimensions.
If Koufax hadn't pitched during the expanded strike zone era, nobody would have remembered him.
He was like a god to me when I was a kid. I used to go up to his house in Studio City, sneak up the long driveway and hide out behind his garage. More than a few times when I'd peek around the corner of the garage, he'd be on a chaise lounge next to the pool, reading the paper. When he and Drysdale opened up their car wash on Ventura Blvd. and Fulton Ave. I'd go there every day to get a hot dog and orange soda and hope he'd show up. I cried when the Orioles swept us in the '66 Series but was inconsolable when he announced his retirement.
I sympathize!.I was 26 when he retired and I felt like your last sentance!
Great story thanks for sharing
Excellent story, thanks!
I had the pleasure of watching a double header in old Forbes field. Don Drysdale pitched the first game and Sandy Koufax pitched the second game. Dodgers 2-1; Dodgers 1-0. They also had Claude Osteen on that roster. I was a lucky kid!
I was at that game with my Dad I was just a kid I still have fond memories of that day
The best of his era and most any other era. I saw him pitch many times and marveled at his ability. One of a kind.
I was taken out of school in Atlanta,GA in 1966 to watch Koufax pitch against the New Atlanta Braves with my maternal Grandfather.On a Monday no less because Koufax would not pitch on the Sabbath.My maternal grandfather was the only one visiting and that was he never traveled with out my maternal grandmother.I remember given the reason for being pulled out of school as Road Trip.
I was 10 years old in 1955 when my Dodgers finally won their World Series over the NY Yankees! So I grew up watching this pitcher make History in his short career! I was such a die hard Dodger Fan that even when they moved to LA, my Father and I stayed awake very late at night, so we could get the final scores from those west coast games! Later in my life, my Father and I became Mets Fans and I went to my first and only World Series Games in 1969 to watch the Mets Winn it all! Great Memories which I will never forget!
I believe it was his final year in baseball, and Koufax went 29-4 for the season. After the season was over, Yogi Berra (Yankee Hall of Fame Catcher) made the comment, "I'm not surprised that he won 29, what surprises me is how he managed to lose 4." I was born and raised in St. Louis, and of course the Cardinals were my team. I was in college in 1968 when Bob Gibson was at his height, and he and Koufax crossed swords any number of times. In fact I believe both managers would schedule their ace whenever the other team's ace was up. When it was Koufax vs. Gibson, two things were for sure: 1). it was going to be a low-scoring game, and 2). it was going to be a quick game. What happened then which never happens now is that pitchers, especially of the quality of Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson, etc, when they started the game, they finished the game. Nowadays, if a starting pitcher makes it 6 innings, he could be throwing a no-hitter, and he still gets taken out.
Koufax's last season was 66. Looks like they faced off in one game in 66
It was 1963, and he went 25-5 when Berra made that remark. He just dominated that Yankee team. 15 strikeouts in game 1 and a shutout in game 4. He was the best ever.
Yogi quote was from 1963 and Koufax's record was 25-5 that year while in 1966 it was 27-9. You could have at least done some research before posting this since memory can get hazy over time.
@@iamhungey12345 Give it a rest, Mr. Perfect.
@@rodneyjordan6745 No one's perfect but that doesn't mean one can't at least try to get the facts straight. Give it a rest with your white knighting.
Two players I remember well from the 60's are Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson. They were great to watch.
In 1962, I believe, I saw Koufax and Gibson go head to head one night. The Dodgers prevailed on a Tommy Davis HR off the left field foul pole in the ninth. Great pitchers. They both pitched many complete games unlike the pitchers of today.
Forgot don drysdale ; sandy koufax & don drysdale spell two loss for opponet
And neither one was shy about staking their claim to the outside of the plate by shaving a batter inside, on the first pitch
@@mikeprevost8650 Drysdale yes, Koufax no.
My dad grew up idolizing those 60's Cubbie teams with Ernie, Santo, and Billy Williams. Koufax made mince meat out of a lineup that had three hall of famers. Respect!
I liked Ferguson Jenkins...except when he pitched against the Cards.
Born and raised in Philadelphia I have always been a Phillies fan. I loved Robin Roberts, Chris Short, Steve Carlton and more of the Phillies pitchers but if I had to pick one guy to pitch one game I had to win, it would be Sandy Koufax. He was the best I ever saw and at 75 years of age, I have seen a lot of great pitchers.
Yes that is true but I have always been a Cardinal fan I would picBOd Gibson. Hewasjutasgod unlike KOufax he was always overpowering hitters
@@ronaldreynolds11 I’ll tell both of you that I too was born & raised in Philly (10 years later than IMA LT), but began my love of baseball as a six-year-old in 1963. Even at that tender age, the name KOUFAX was a legend in SW Philly where I grew up. From ‘63 to ‘66, there was never a more dominant pitcher in my life and I LOVED Jim Bunning & Chris Short and, later, Steve Carlton. The two best starting pitchers I ever saw, to this day, were Sandy Koufax from the left side and Bob Gibson from the right. I truly miss the game of baseball that was played when I was a child. Two hour games, rarely anyone you would consider a relief specialist because pitchers actually completed games, no DH, World Series games on in the afternoon so you could run home from school to watch them, no adjusting of your batting gloves or wrist straps by hitters between pitches because the next one would be at your head.... I could go on, but those days are over. I’ve been privileged to have seen the number of Hall of Famers I’ve watched over the decades, both live at Connie Mack Stadium, Veteran’s Stadium and, now, the Bank, and on TV. The game has changed immensely, but after watching that game today (grand slam by Harper to tie and 3-run blast by Stott to walk it off), I still got the rush of excitement I remember as a boy from the game I lived for.
@@michaelmccauley648 this is the coolest comment. I’m a Philadelphia fan from Delaware whose now in his forties and loves hearing your stories.
@@Tyrannosaurine Thanks for the compliment. It helps being an old dude.... there’s a lot more to look back on.
@@ronaldreynolds11 I like your loyalty, but Koufax was way better than Gibson. Gibby had that historic record in 1968, the year of the pitcher. But, can you imagine a healthy, prime Koufax that season? Would have been 2 30 game winners that year!
Sandy was the main reason I was a Dodger fan. Whenever I see or hear anything about the dodgers I think of Sandy. He was a big hero to us teenagers.
He forgot to say that in those years there was only one Cy Young for both league
he is not only my favorite baseball player of all time, but is my favorite living celebrity of any kind
In 1959 my family went to the Dodger game when they were playing in the Coliseum and we waited at the park nearby for the players to come out to hopefully get an autograph.
My hero that year was Wally Moon, who batted left-handed, hit many home runs over the left field screen fence. Wally never came out the direction we were at, but 2 unknown pitchers did and I got their autographs. Well that time we needed a baseball to play a sandlot game and we used my autographed ball. A couple of years later a realize I made the mistake of a lifetime when Sandy turned into the best pitcher in Baseball and a prized trophy was wasted. I listened to every Dodger Game and was amazing how they could win so many games without more than a run or two. I seem to remember a game where Maury Wills get on base with a bunt single, steals second base, steals 3rd base and finally steals home for their only run and won the game. I think he was the very best pitcher of any era.
I grew up in that time as well in LA, a huge Dodger and Koufax fan. Your story about listening to his Perfect Game sounds almost identical to mine. I was 13 and was in my room listening on the old transistor radio too. I seem to remember that late in the game a Cubs batter sent one of the Dodger outfielders to the warning track on a long fly ball. Probably the only time a 13 year old kid almost had a heart attack. BTW, my ex Brother-in Law (Jan Martin) pitched Triple A ball for the Dodgers during part of Koufax’s career. He said that someone started to film what would have been his Perfect Game, but for some reason stopped after a couple of innings. I don’t think there is any recording of the entire game. Sure wish there was.
@@raymondlowry8564 I don’t think my heart could take it.
So elegant. I saw him pitch at the Coliseum a night-time game.
I guess my memory deceives me,because I have always believed he struck out 18 that night. I know for sure my dad gave me his copy of next day’s newspaper with huge headlines.
I was a pre-teen girl & my dad told me to hold onto that paper & show it to him on my wedding day.
I sure wish I had done that.
a Moon Shot.
The left arm of God. You don’t wanna face that guy…..Great video dude!!!
In the 1963 World Series, after Mickey Mantle struck out looking on a particularly wicked Koufax curve ball, Mantle turned to the catcher, Johnny Roseboro and said “How the fuck is anybody supposed to hit that shit?” The Dodgers went on to win the Series in four games with Koufax winning two.
However Mantle did hit a homerun off Kofax in that series that should tell you how great Mickey Mantle was also.
Was a Giants fan, but loved watching Koufax vs. Marichal
You didn't mention his terrific curve ball. The best I've ever seen.
It also inspired Max Scherzer to start working to incorporate the pitch into his arsenal as well.
some said it was like dropping right off side of a table
@@stevea6816 Vin Scully once said, "It's like a ball rolling off the hood of a car."
The curve was really his strikeout pitch.
I remember going to the ravine, hearing Vin's voice wafting over the whole stadium from thousands of radio's, munching on a Dodger dog
and watching Sandy pitch. Oh, the memories.
they are great aren't they? makes me teary eyed. I miss it so much.
Koufax pitched game 7 of the 1965 World Series on 2 days rest, not 3 days rest as claimed in this video.
The greatest pitcher ever, period. I saw him originally in Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn,
No arguement from here,,,l was near tears when l heard of his retirement.
I got to meet Harmon Killebrew (class act too) and he said that the 7th game of the world series in Minnesota was the greatest game he ever saw pitched. Sandy pitched a 3 hitter on two days rest and had virtually no curve ball as his arm was too sore,,,hats off!
He was not the greatest ever. Stop.
The greatest ever is someone who played beyond age 30.
@@dukedematteo1995 who is then?
@@debrachampagne7715 couple other guys....Pedro, Unit, Lefty Grove Clemens, Seaver, Gibson, Maddux....
Clemens had the best statistical career by far, so him IMO..... but if you're the type that gets all butthurt by his 9 scattered months of PED use at age 38/39 and dismisses him.....then Randy Johnson is my pick.
@@dukedematteo1995 I agree with both of your choices
as a 73 year old, I saw T. Williams in Boston etc. S.Koufax would be my choice in the 'game '> select one player to add to your roster for game 7 of W.S. ......
This was excellent - I just SUBBED ... he was my all-time favorite and THE most charismatic athlete I've ever seen ...
The production values here were top-notch and as an elderly citizen, I loved the nostalgic visual flavor created by the rare and never-seen-before footage and photos...
My father took me to Wrigley in '66 ... when he came out to warm-up, everybody in the ballpark stopped, stood-up and applauded - just for warming-up! ...
But there was one statistical error here ... regarding Game 7 of the '65 World Series against the Twins ... he actually pitched on only TWO days rest, not three ...
I think I also speak for many people who love watching nostalgic videos like this because it reminds us all of how genuine, pure and innocent American society was back then ...
Not so fast - in 1963 the first and only coup d'etat in American history happened on 11/22/1963 with the assassination of President Kennedy. Even Rev. Billy Graham once generally commented re: people's nostalgic memories of the "good old days" that in fact weren't so good. I confess that this comment is misplaced but re: JFK, the fact is that his alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald did NOT act alone and he was set up to take the fall to consummate the great deception by the CIA - ruclips.net/video/58xhXSAZJog/видео.html. There goes your innocence. Thank you for your time.
Violence and riots related to the civil rights movement, Vietnam war, fear and paranoia caused by the cold war, multiple high profile assassinations, ect. What part of American society was so innocent and pure? The 60's don't sound any different then now.
@@unkledoda420 I was referring to the social bonds that kept our daily interactions with each other civil ... we were generally innocent until proven guilty ...
Back then nobody was easily accused of having the "wrong" political leanings, sexual preference, race or religion ... and oh yeah, the Fed govt was not trying to kill us!
@@unkledoda420 Thank you. Speaking of which - ruclips.net/video/58xhXSAZJog/видео.html.
@@DDEENY Ha! ... so how'd you know I'm obsessed with the Kennedy Assassination? ...
So you think James files was the key trigger man? ... I say it was Lucien Sarti ... your thoughts ...
Because of Koufax, I became a fan. I saw him pitch 4 times but I remember 2 of them clearly. The first at the Polo Grounds. First time in a mlb park. He beat the Mets like 10-0 and k'd more than a dozen. I remember asking my uncle, 'Is this the way pitchers pitch in the big leagues?' Her answered, 'no, this pitcher is very special. Take a good look at him, you may never see one better than him in your lifetime.' Her was right. I was 9 and 60 years later, I've never seen anyone better. The second time was at Shea. I was a Mets' fan but Koufax was my favorite player. In 65, the Mets beat him for the very first time and my brother and I celebrated like the Mets had won the WS. I've seen many superstars in my years in different sports, but the only one I would love to meet is Sandy koufax. He impacted my life with skills and his grace when I was just a little boy and that remains in my memory as I live my senior years.
Great show, thank you!
Very respectful, you're a good man.
My team all my life was the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially the incomparable Roberto Clemente, but the only was I could catch the Pirates, except in person, was on the radio. When they faced Koufax, and they were down a run, I turned off the game because I knew the game was over. The best!
Rr Dr thanks A
Our grade school let us see the Pirates beat the Yankees in 1960. Maseroski hit a homerun. I was so excited and happy. They were great days.
Hi. That was a most memorable day in my life as I had to make a presentation for my history seminar, and went in with the Bucs up a little but had no idea what happened until I left the building. I must have seen Roberto play 50 times. Still my favorite player, who for some unfathomable reason hasn’t had MLB retire 21.
My only game I ever attended at Forbes Field was against the Braves and we sat down the first base line in the outfield. Aaron and Clemente. What a treat.
@@moonrich3492 When I first become a Pirate fan they were absolutely terrible. Ralph Kiner, who I had my photo taken with, was the only star. They drew about 5000per game. But Roberto was always my man.
Growing up a Cardinals fan in St. Louis the games against the Dodgers and the Giants were my favorites in the 1960s. I was born in 1953 so my baseball memories of Sandy Koufax are only of this great stretch from 1961 through 1966. That also meant seeing Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, and Bob Gibson as all 3 teams had very good seasons in the 1960s. I kept of old strat-o-matic baseball game all these years and my wife will hear me in the basement re-living those memories still playing the game, as I have the 1962 and 1965 Giants, the 1963 and 1965 Dodgers, and the 1964 and 1967 Cardinals teams. Great memories and for a 6 year stretch by Sandy Koufax I agree that was the greatest I have seen, but the debate is fun as to which of those 3 pitchers was the best.
Do not forget the back-to-back no-hitters by Gaylord Perry and Ray Washburn. That was wild.
Yes it was and I had not thought about that one in a long time. Now that you mentioned it I looked it up and saw the year was 1968. Thanks@@donhuber9131
Sandy started Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on TWO DAYS rest, not three. He couldn't throw his devasting curveball after the first inning, and shut out the Twins 2-0 throwing 95% fastballs. The Twins knew what he was throwing and still managed only 3 hits while striking out 10. Sandy threw back to back shutouts in Games 5 and 7. Only Bob Gibson struck out more batters in the 1968 series, 35 batters to Sandy's 29. Amazing competitor and greatest lefthander of all time!!
Thanks for the memories. Growing up in AZ. And watching Sandy & Don pitch was such a pleasure & honor.
I was in Little League in 64 and a LH centerfielder. I too was a thrower and could hit home plate on the fly. The coach thought I would make a good pitcher and Koufax became my idol. I modeled his direct overhand motion. I had a killer drop off curve. It all ended for me in high school when the coach (the English teacher) let me throw a 10 inning, yes, 10 inning, 1 hit, 1 run loss, that was a no hit shut out for me until the 10th. The next morning I couldn't lift my arm and my potential baseball career was over but my love for what Sandy Koufax did and the life inspiration he provided lives on.
Gee, you could have been the next Koufax....
I attended his perfect game. Box seat was $ 3.50. This remains the only game in major league history where both teams combined for only one hit and 2 base runners. Quirks- only a one game series with the Cubs, not a make up of a rain out game. I saved my ticket stub. 30 years later, almost to the day,
Sept 5. 1995, Koufax was at a card show in San Francisco. The show charged $ 60 for his autograph and he signed the ticket stub. In his next pitching assignment, he faced the Cubs again , this time in Chicago and his mount opponent was Bob Hendley again !
wow what a treat for you!
Koufax was the last pitcher to no hit the Cubs until Cole Hamels no no in 2015. I believe it was a record far the most games between no hitters.
Koufax was my baseball hero growing up in the 60's on Long Island. I got to see him pitch at the old Shea Stadium against the Mets, but Koufax was taken out after about 5 innings and the Dodgers lost. But it was something to see him pitch when I was about 12 years old. I remember coming home from school and seeing on the TV that Koufax was retiring, and I cried. To paraphrase what the manager tells Roy Hobbs in "The Natural" - "Well, you're better than anyone I ever had, and you're the best goddamn (picher) I ever saw".
William...we are about the same age, my brother 2 years older than me. My dad let us take the 7 train in Queens to Shea (never happen in these days), to Mets games. I don't remember watching Dodgers but I do remember warren Spahn at the end of his career. High leg kick. I had a Topps baseball card where Koufax struck out 15 in a world series game. Didn't hear that in the video but I will look it up. LGM.
@@michaeljensen2013 do you think Mets beating Orioles in 1969 a fluke?
@@debrachampagne7715 Everything's in the cards. Nothing is a fluke. Everything that happens was meant to happen by the higher power that controls everything.
I was at that game. Only time I ever saw Koufax pitch in person and the Mets beat him!
As a kid from that era, I loved Sandy Koufax. I played little league in N. Quincy, MA. I was a leftie pitcher. I was a diehard Red Sox fan but appreciated the talented Sandy Koufax.
Played from 1955 to 1966. From 1961 to 1966...there was no one better!
people talk about his fast ball, but he had a great curve that made his fast ball better.
I think Koufax’s World Series era was like zero point 95 under one unbelievable !
Thank you, I was going to add that. His curve was awesome, too.
Yes, you are right, he would set em up with the curve, and then zing a heater by them. Sometimes vice versa.
@@donjennings9034 think he only had 2 pitches but they were so good you couldn’t hit either !
He had that rising or exploding fastball and big 12 6 curveball that changed hitters eye level
One of the best ever without a doubt.
Very nice; you can see how dominant the guy was! Amazing delivery.
Sandy Koufax was, in my opinion, the best pitcher ever!
You are not alone...best ever !
It would be nice to have seen him complete his career without injury. It doesn't happen often for the great ones. Regardless of injury, he was the best!
At his peak, he’s clearly one of top 5 or better
For career value he way down the list.
Saw the Dodgers at the Coliseum when I was 10 years old, Double-Header games..Listened to Vin Scully on the radio with my Dad as Sandy Koufax struck out 18 batters in a game...good times indeed.
Which game, 59 or 62?
I saw one too, I was 10 also. Missed very few games after that.
Awesome presentation of Sandy's career.
As a kid and a Yankees fan I hated Sandy Koufax for the way he (and Drysdale) obliterated the Yankees in 1963! The only good thing from that series was when Mantle hit a solo homer off him in game four (too little too late). But, now as an old man I have nothing but respect for Koufax! He was the greatest pitcher of my lifetime! An absolute role model!
Okay....I can help you with info on Mantle's homer vs. Sandy. I recorded the post game tv interview w/ Vin Scully on my little tape recorder......Vin asked him about the HR by Mantle: "I missed my spot...got it out up and over the plate, and he hit it good; boy, he hit it a ton."
How did you like the 64 WS?
I loved it! Especially Kenny Boyer's grand slam.@@kbrewski1
I remember the night that Sandy pitched his perfect game. We lived in southern Louisiana, in the path of many hurricanes; and that night, Hurricane Betsy hit the coast and worked its way northwest toward Lafayette. I tried as best as I could to get word of baseball scores on my transistor radio, especially news of Sandy's game that evening against the Chicago Cubs. It was around midnight when I heard Paul Harvey say, "Tonight, Sandy Koufax pitched (Harvey paused a second or two here) a perfect game." I went nuts, running through our dark house (electricity was out all through the city), yelling, "He did it! He did! He did it!" That woke up my parents, and my father snarled, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Go to bed, gddamnit!" "Koufax did it! He pitched a perfect game tonight!" "Go to bed, gddamnit!" I did, eventually ... but it took a long time to settle down.
I like your description of Paul Harvey. I remember that way of pausing that he had before he would say: "And that's the rest--of the story." Koufax was fantastic, but I was a Giants fan, so seeing Willie Mays homer off Koufax in '65 was one of the most exciting experiences of my childhood.
Great tale!
Nice work, he was the best of his era.
I pitched in college for three years in the early 70’s. Sandy Koufax was my pitching idol along with Whitey Ford. I have a picture of me hung on a wall in my office in the same pitching sequence as Sandy. Now I know why he is in the HOF and I am not!.
My little league team got to meet Sandy and Charley Neal at a bank opening in South Central LA in 1959. We were told we could ask each of them one question. I asked Sandy who was the player that gave him the hardest time to get out. Without blinking an eye he said Henry Aaron. Bad Henry of course went on to break Ruth’s home run record without any artificial help and Koufax went on to throw 4 no hitters. Two class acts.
Loved Charely Neal but my favorite was Jim Gilliam.
@@janetannerevans2320 you’re right. Jim Gilliam was a rock. He anchored the infield for the Dodgers for many years. Died way too young. There is a park named for him in LA.
I am a native Los Angeles resident, born in 1954, Sandy and the Dodgers are a part of my life! Thank you, Sandy!
Bob Gipson did a little ruling also!I think Kofax and Gipson were two of the greatest ever.
@@barrykime5580 GIBSON not Gipson.
@@barrykime5580 Denny Mclain
Great admiration for Sandy. Was a left handed little league pitcher back in the 60s and tried to emulate his pitching motion. Became a Dodger fan because of Sandy. Heartbroken when they lost the '66 series to the Orioles. Great work on this video!
excellent sports documentary...one of the best ever mr sandy koufax....wow !!!
Accurate, interesting, and well-told. Thanks!
Simply the best,,,and with class.
Great mini bio on Sandy, such a great competitor.
This brings back such fond memories. Sandy Koufax was the best pitcher I ever saw. I grew up in southern California and in 1963, at age seven, became a Dodgers fan and, especially, a Sandy Koufax fan. I never got to see him pitch in person, but aside from his many televised post-season games, certain regular season road games were televised in the LA area and they would always position one of the cameras behind home plate so you could basically see what the hitter saw--an overpowering fastball and a drop-off-the-table curve that could make hitters look silly. Koufax dominated like no one I've ever seen since--and he did it with class and a dose of humility. When I wasn't able to watch him, I was listening on my transistor radio. Like many, I was sad to hear him announce his retirement, but I fully understood the reasons why and I'm thankful I got to witness such a brilliant pitcher. To think what might have been if he had been able to pitch a few more years.
I was a kid in the Sandy Kofax era. I lived in L.A. I loved the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. My favorite teams.
I am a Canadian,at the time a Dodgers’ fan,now a Blue Jays’ fan,who went down to Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium,and witnessed Sandy’s last W,a pennant winning 6-3 victory on 3 days rest,a must win game in the second game of a doubleheader,to clinch the 1966 NL pennant.
I watched him throughout this span. Never saw anything like him before. Or since. And I don't expect that I ever will.
In 6th grade 1959 listening to Vin when Sandy struck out 18 in a game..Saw some games that year at the Coliseum when Wally hit Moon Shots over left field tall wall..My teacher that year let us listen to transistor radios of World Series games which were always day games then..And in Little League I pitched (9-0)
we won the Championship..Those were fine times indeed.
He was the greatest in that 6 year span
He also had had 11 shutouts in 1966 along with a record of 27-8...
Born in '51, the Dodgers were my team. Koufax motion may be the most beautiful in baseball history. Fast forward to 2022. Did you hear about that 20yr old Roki Sasaki in the Japanese major leagues that threw a perfect game recently? First perfect game in that league since '94. Apparently he throws 104 mph consistently. Struck out 19, which broke the record, including 13 in a row. Classy guy because he gave the 18yr old catcher a lot of credit. Then in his next start he threw 8 perfect innings and they took him out! His team lost 1-0 in the 10th!
LUV BASEBALL OF YESTER YEAR, THE PAST, ALL THE MOMENTS, PLAYERS, COACHS, FANS, SIMPLE, RUGGED, FEIRCE, MAN AGINST MAN COMPETITON, ANYTHING AND EVRYTHING CAN GO WRONG, CHANGES ENTIRE GAME, SEASON, PLAYED IT AS A BOY, GREAT TIMES!!!
Sandy Koufax. A true SPORTS HERO…………
Watch Sandy many times in his prime.....he was unbelieveable!!
My hero too sandy koflex was unhittable
Saw Denny McLain in Detroit go 31 and6 in 1968
@@debrachampagne7715 sandy koufax is in baseball hall of fame & denny mcclain isn"t denny mcclain has more wins but sandy koufax has 3 cy young to denny mcclain 2 laugh
Denny McClain was,a great pitcher in his day too. I think he got into soe trouble that kept him out of the Hall but he deserved to be there.
Sandy was a few years before my time, but my grandfather spoke of him with the highest praise!
Sandy was and is the Best!!! I’m proud to be a lifelong Dodger fan
I live in Toronto and follow the blue jays...when the Dodgers came to town a few years ago, l went to the game and cheered my team on,,,that team was and is the Dodgers
What I remember about that time was Koufax and Drysdale pitching for the Dodgers. It was almost an unbeatable dual that other teams had to face but Koufax was special.
Great video!!! Glad to find this channel before it blows up.
As a twelve year old, my dad took me to the 1963 World Series, game 4. With Koufax pitching, it was going to be a tough game for New York. But my hero was Mickey Mantle and I was yelling for him to hit a home run each time he came up. But sitting in the Dodgers side of the field, fans would turn around and yell at me to shut up and my dad thought we might get killed. But with the Dodgers safely ahead and Koufax pitching, we were safe for Mantle to hit one out and he did. Years later, I got to have lunch with my dad and Mantle in a little place in Oklahoma. I told him my story and we all laughed! Mickey would always be my hero in baseball but my dad will always be that for me!
The pitching rotation of Koufax, Drysdale, Osteen, and Perranoski was the best weapon in the arsenal known as the 1960s L.A. Dodgers. There was a brief spell when the Dodgers' hitting was so bad that Drysdale started in the outfield because the team needed his bat.
Drysdale hit like an outfielder. One year he had the best batting average on the team.
Great story. The Cards used Gibson as a pinch hitter on occasion!
better mic will increase your watch duration and boost your channel more. Great quality besides that. keep it up
Considering i’m coming from the early 20th century, I think I sound pretty good! Thanks for the kind words :)
@@BaseballTimeMachine No, you don’t sound good. You sound like you are putting on a Radio effect and it makes you sound “tinny”. Only made it :44 seconds. Re-record and repost, please. Bye.
@@BaseballTimeMachine and furthermore, how are you “coming from the early 20th century”? Did you record this from 1900’s to, say, the 1930’s?
@@samiam619 The initial comment sufficed. I think he got it.
I am 80. I remember as a teen in SOCAL THAT WHEN SANDY WAS PITCHING HIS ANNUAL NO HITTER RADIOS WOULD POP OUT EVERYWHERE AND WE WOULD ALL LISTEN TO VIN SCULLY’s description of the game.
At WORLD SERIES time SANDY WOULD NEVER PITCH ON YOM KIPPUR (MAN OF CHARACTER) but he always pitched 2 games and often 3. He seemed to always pitch complete World Series games.
Sandy pitched the first game of a twilight double header. Frank Robinson was asked about SANDY’s velocity, and Frank replied. I never saw the ball but he sure SOUNDED FAST!
That's the reason why this man is considered the greatest left-handed picture of all time.
Koufax won 27 games in one season, today these pitchers are lucky to start just 27 games in a season, and then they come out after 6 or 7 innings.
September 9, 1965, Sandy pitched a perfect game. The opposing pitcher was a "broken down" left-hander Bob Hendley with the Cubs. Hendley gave up one hit and one run in what MLB considers the greatest baseball game ever pitched. Ironically, Kofax and Hendley overall had four decisions against each other. Hendley won three and the only time Kofax beat Hendley, Sandy had to be perfect.
Great tidbit Ron thanks
I remember being in attendance at Dodger stadium for an evening game against the Cincinnati Reds and the opposing pitcher Sammy Ellis. The Dodgers lost 1-0. So you're right on point, Sandy had to be damn near perfect.
My uncle
The perfect game that Koufax pitched against Hendley and the Cubs set the major league record for the fewest hits in a nine inning game (one) and the fewest base runners (one,Lou Johnson of the Dodgers). The base hit didn’t even account for the only run in the game. And the last out was made by Harvey Kuehn, a pinch hitter for the Cubs and a .300 lifetime hitter. He struck out to end the game. Must have been deja vu all over again because three years earlier,as a member of the Giants he grounded out to the pitcher for the last out in another no-hitter. The pitcher’s name? Yup,Sandy Koufax.
@@ChrisDutch my father went to that game. He got a free ticket from his boss. I listened on the radio and couldn't wait for him to get home so we could talk about it. He played football in highschool and thought the game was so boring. He said not much happened. He was not impressed at all.
I always enjoyed watching him pitch, he made it look so effortless.
Koufax was a class player also,,
Saw him pitch in person 2 times and you could here the ball spinning on the way to the catcher !! Great left handed pitcher !!
Can only imagine what kind of numbers he would have put up just in 1968. The year of the pitcher might have been his greatest if he had been able to pitch in '68.
Sandy Koufax and Steve Carlton the best lefties all time in my era which I'm 62 years of age. Big Unit was third. Best righties were Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan with Tom Server as third. There common trait to each other was the opposing team in for a very long day. Lol
I would take Seaver over Ryan any day.
@@username-zj9id I would probably take Pedro or Maddux over Seaver. Close call on that one.
@@fredmar6436 fair enough.
How about rapid Bob Feller
@@debrachampagne7715 he was a righty, but I do think he was among the best pitchers of all time. He missed 4 years and still won 266 games. Led the league in wins and strikeouts 5 years in a row
I argued with my dad; he liked Whitey Ford; I was in love with Sandy Koufax. Passionate!!!
Great segment from a new subscriber. Thanks for putting this together and making it available to us.
My dad took me to see him pitch in Brooklyn against St. Louis. My dad being from St. Louis had to see the game. We were Cardinal fans but had I had to see Koufax. I was 8 yrs old. He struck out Stan Musial three times. That had never before happened to “Stan the Man”. If you blinked your eyes you missed the pitch! Koufax was a human pitching machine. The best I ever saw.
I can’t find that boxscore, champ. Please tell us more.
If not for early retirement he wins 300 games easily !
I still can’t find that boxscore, champ. Give me some more information about this supposed game. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Really strike out stan manual three time , like three out ted wullians three
Yet Musial's batting average against Koufax was .345.