What was sandy koufaxs number

He was the strikeouts leader four times, setting a single-season mark with in , and had the most wins three times, with totals of 27, 26 and He was the first pitcher to average fewer than seven hits allowed per nine innings pitched in his career 6.

He also became the second pitcher in baseball history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more strikeouts. In his last 10 seasons, batters hit. The Dodgers moved to Chavez Ravine, their new stadium, in It was designed to be a pitcher-friendly park, with large foul territory and a terrible hitting background. Pitching in this park, Koufax lowered his home ERA from 4. He also broke the year NL drought following Dazzy Vance's achievement of the feat, the longest stretch between accomplishments.

With the no-hitter and a 1. While batting against the San Francisco Giants on July 8, Koufax's index finger on his left hand was injured, but he did not tell anybody. Koufax pitched in several more games while his finger slowly developed gangrene. After seeing a vascular specialist, it was determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm.

Luckily, ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery. Koufax finally was able to pitch again in September, when the team was locked in a tight pennant race with the Giants. Trying to get back into shape after the long layoff, Koufax was ineffective in three appearances as the Giants caught the Dodgers at the end of the regular season.

The night before the National League playoffs, Manager Walter Alston asked Koufax if he could start the first game on the next day. With an overworked pitching staff, there was no one else, as Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres had pitched the prior two days. Koufax obliged. As Koufax later said, "I had nothing at all. After winning the second game of the series, the Dodgers blew a 4—2 lead in the ninth inning of the deciding third game, losing the pennant.

Koufax came roaring back in Koufax ended up walking Ed Bailey on a 3-and-2 pitch, but preserved the no-hitter, his second in as many years, by closing out the ninth. Koufax finished the year by winning the pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins 25 , strikeouts and ERA 1. Clete Boyer was the only Yankee regular not to strike out against Koufax. Mickey Mantle , Tom Tresh and Tony Kubek struck out twice each, and Bobby Richardson struck out three times after striking out only 22 times on the season, in at-bats.

Koufax also struck out three pinch-hitters, including Harry Bright to end the game. Yogi Berra, after seeing Koufax's Game One performance, was quoted as saying, "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five. On April 22, however, against the St.

Louis Cardinals, during the first inning of Koufax's third start, he felt something "let go" in his arm. Koufax ended up getting three cortisone shots for his sore elbow, and he missed three starts. On June 4, playing at Shibe Park against the Philadelphia Phillies, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Koufax walked Richie Allen on a very close full-count pitch. Allen, who was thrown out trying to steal second, was the first and last Phillie to reach base. With his third no-hitter in three years, Koufax became only the second pitcher of the modern era after Bob Feller to pitch three no-hitters.

On August 8, Koufax jammed his pitching arm while diving back to second base to beat a pick-off throw. He managed to pitch and win two more games. However, the morning after his 19th win, a shutout in which he struck out 13, he couldn't straighten his arm. He was diagnosed by Dodgers' team physician Robert Kerlan with traumatic arthritis.

Koufax finished the year with an impressive 19—5 record. Playing in pain The season started off badly for Koufax. On March 31, the morning after pitching a full game during spring training, Koufax awoke to find that his entire left arm was black and blue from hemorrhaging. Koufax returned to Los Angeles to consult with Kerlan, who advised Koufax that he'd be lucky to be able to pitch once a week. Kerlan also told Koufax that he would eventually lose full use of his arm.

Together, they mapped out a schedule where Koufax would only pitch every fifth day instead of his customary every fourth day, resulting in thirty-four starts instead of forty-one. Kerlan didn't think that making seven fewer starts in a season would make much of a difference, so Koufax agreed not to throw at all between games -- instead of throwing the customary one day between.

To get himself through the games he pitched in, Koufax resorted to cortisone shots in the elbow, Empirin with codeine for the pain which he took every night and sometimes during the fifth inning , and Butazolidin for inflammation. He would also apply capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment called "atomic balm" by baseball players before each game, and then soak his arm in a tub of ice.

The trainers would leave three beers in the tub; when Koufax had finished them, he would take his arm out. Despite the constant pain in his pitching elbow, Koufax finished the year by winning his second pitchers' Triple Crown, leading the league in wins 26 , ERA 2.

His strikeout total obliterated the previous record of set by Bob Feller in , and lasted until , when Nolan Ryan struck out batters his strikeouts remains the National League single-season record. Koufax pitched six innings, giving up 2 runs in Game Two, but the Minnesota Twins won the game 5—1, and took an early 2—0 lead in the series.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball after joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente became the first Latin American player to collect 3, career hits before his death in a plane crash.

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan established records with his 5, strikeouts and seven no-hitters during his year Major League Baseball career. Baseball icon Babe Ruth set numerous records as a pitcher and slugging outfielder. He was among the first five players inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame. One of the greatest baseball players in history, Willie Mays thrilled fans over a year big league career with his powerful bat and astonishing defensive skills.

Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees in the s and s, setting the mark for consecutive games played. He died of ALS in Jewish American baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax was a star player for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers before elbow arthritis forced him into early retirement. Proud to support B-R. COM, and to sponsor the page of a tremendous athlete and person.

His life should be an inspiration for us all. He is the inspiration for my site's whimsical "Sabbathmetrics" series examining whether Jewish ballplayers do better or worse on the Sabbath. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Are you a Stathead, too? Subscribe to our Free Newsletter. This Month in Sports Reference Find out when we add a feature or make a change.

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