Sunday, 24 November 2024

Sandy Koufax

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Baseball
Statistics: 4 World Series Championships (1955, 1959, 1963 & 1965)
1 MVP (1963)
3 Triple Crowns (1963, 1965 & 1966)
3 Cy Young Awards (1963, 1965 & 1966)
7 All-Star Games (1961x2, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 & 1966)
3 Wins Titles (1963, 1965 & 1966)
5 ERA Titles (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 & 1966)
4 Strikeouts Titles (1961, 1963, 1965 & 1966)
165 Wins
2.76 ERA
2,396 Strikeouts
2 AP Male Athlete of the Year Awards (1963 & 1965)
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Number Retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Time Team
After six nondescript seasons with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Sandy Koufax went on an off-season workout regimen that transformed his mind, body, and soul. Koufax went on a six-year run of pitching dominance that has few equals regardless of the sport. In that stretch, Koufax threw a perfect game, won the MVP three Cy Youngs, led the NL in ERA five times and strikeouts four times.

Koufax had already won two World Series rings before his ascension to greatness, but he played a minute role in those titles. He was the World Series MVP in his third (1963) and 1965 (fourth) title.

As great as he was, Koufax was playing through pain, and after his 1966 Cy Young win, he retired abruptly, citing advancing arthritic conditions. At age 36, he became the youngest man elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

We are proud to nominate Sandy Koufax for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

Back to List