Sandy Koufax and His Home Ballparks

Sandy Koufax posted a career 57-15 won-loss record at Dodger Stadium and a 1.37 ERA. (SABR-Rucker Archive)

 

Sandy Koufax’s baseball career is a tale of two cities, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. It is a tale about a career that contained two disparate time periods, the worst of times and the best of times. For the first seven seasons he was a marginal player and, quite frankly, unremarkable. For the final five seasons he was phenomenal.

How did Koufax have such two distinctly different periods within his career? One possible answer points to the home ballparks where he plied his trade. It is not happenstance that each period of his career aligns with different home ballparks. He pitched at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field and Los Angeles’ Coliseum from 1955 to 1961, his unremarkable years. At Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, his home ballpark from 1962 to 1966, Koufax built the legend that made him a Hall of Famer.

The story of Sandy Koufax and his home ballparks begins in December 1954 when Koufax signed his first professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers for an annual salary of $6,000 and a $14,000 bonus. According to the rules in effect in 1954, the bonus guaranteed Koufax, soon to be 19 years old, a spot on the Dodgers roster until the end of 1956, two full seasons. There would be no skill development in minor-league home ballparks during his career.

Ebbets Field, in his hometown of Brooklyn, would be his home ballpark. Located in an area known as Pigtown in the Flatbush district of Brooklyn, Ebbets Field covered a full city block and was a prominent edifice in the community. The ballpark’s exterior featured grand arches and windows. Fans made their way to their seats through an Italian marble rotunda. With minimal foul territory, the double-tiered grandstand was close to the playing field, making for an intimate fan experience. In fact, portions of the grandstand and press box hung over the field.

An irregularly configured ballpark, Ebbets Field was considered a hitter’s haven. From home plate to the foul poles, the right-field fence was 297 feet, while the left-field fence measured 348 feet. The fences in right-center field and left-center field were roughly equivalent at 352 feet. Dead center field was a deep 393 feet.

Koufax’s rookie season was the 43rd season of baseball at Ebbets Field. Originally built in 1913 and renovated several times over the years, Ebbets Field had by 1955 a seating capacity of 31,902, small relative to other National League parks.

With Ebbets Field nearing the end of its useful life and needing a larger ballpark, Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley was negotiating with local government for the development of a new baseball stadium in Brooklyn. Covering a full city block meant the Ebbets site could not accommodate an expanded stadium.

Koufax attended Lafayette High School in a section of Brooklyn just five minutes southwest of Ebbets Field. His first memories of the ballpark were from high-school trips to see the Dodgers play. Annually, the students would go to a game starting at 11 A.M. Those school trips forged fond memories of Dodgers great Jackie Robinson and of other players like Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, and Don Newcombe who would later become his teammates.

It was in September 1954 that Koufax pitched on the Ebbets Field mound for the first time. Present for this tryout were scouting director Al Campanis, manager Walter Alston, scout Fresco Thompson, and broadcaster Vin Scully. Koufax threw to catcher Rube Walker. His fastball and curve were both rated A+ in Campanis’s scouting report.1

Koufax was considered a natural for Ebbets Field. A southpaw with highly rated pitching skills and a local Jewish talent, he merited a roster spot and the bonus money. He was added to the Dodgers roster in December 1954. Scout Thompson envisioned the 19-year-old Koufax’s development and early career use and decided, “We feel he’ll be ready in about four years.”2 It was hoped that Koufax, the lone Jewish player on the Dodgers’ major-league roster, would become a star and boost attendance at his home ballpark.

As Koufax’s professional career commenced, he saw pitching as an art form to be learned, honed, and perfected. To him, control was the essence of pitching.3 Control meant throwing strikes. Losing was precipitated by too many walks. Typical baseball pitching statistics show his progress in learning the pitching art form. Three specific pitching statistics measure his progress in the mastery of control: walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP), strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), and strikeout/walk ratio (K/BB).

Koufax was on the Dodgers roster for the 1955 season, but his debut at Ebbets Field was delayed. Late in spring training, an ankle injury forced him onto the disabled list. Activated on June 8, Koufax made his first Ebbets Field game appearance on June 29. In the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss to the New York Giants, he faced six batters, surrendered two hits, walked one, and did not give up a run.

Entering games late when the Dodgers were trailing was manager Walter Alston’s plan for using and developing Koufax. It was 24 days before he next appeared in a home game. He was roughed up for two earned runs in the last two innings of an 11-6 loss to the Milwaukee Braves. The next day Koufax was back on the Ebbets Field mound in the second game of a doubleheader against the Braves. He pitched a perfect ninth inning in a 9-2 loss.

Thirty-two days passed before Koufax next appeared in a home game. He pitched well, pleasing the hometown fans with a perfect ninth inning against Cincinnati. Koufax had two strikeouts, his first at Ebbets Field.

In late August Brooklyn was cruising to the National League pennant with a significant lead over the second-place Milwaukee Braves. But the Dodgers had lost three straight to the fifth-place Reds and with starters Carl Erskine and Don Newcombe ailing, manager Alston gave Koufax his first Ebbets Field start on August 27.

It was an amazing debut for Koufax as a starter in his home ballpark. He got his first win, a 7-0 shutout. Surrendering hits only in the first and ninth innings, Koufax had 14 strikeouts, a National League single-game high for the 1955 season. The only negative in this stellar outing for Koufax was his lack of control; he walked five batters.

Koufax pitched twice more during a late August and early September homestand. A disastrous sixth inning against Milwaukee (five hits and four earned runs) on the last day of August did not dissuade Alston from naming him as the starter against Pittsburgh on the Saturday of the Labor Day weekend. That second start at Ebbets Field was another remarkable outing. Koufax picked up his second win of the season, another shutout, with six strikeouts, five hits, and two walks, as the Dodgers defeated the Pirates 4-0.

Highlighted by two shutouts, Koufax’s inaugural season at Ebbets Field was impressive. In the seven games he pitched in his hometown ballpark, he shut out opponents for 22 of his 24 innings pitched. Limiting opponents to nine hits (seven singles and two doubles), Koufax had two wins and attractive ERA of 2.25 at Ebbets Field, and contributed to Brooklyn’s capture of the National League pennant for the eighth time. Brooklyn defeated the New York Yankees in seven games to win the World Series, though Koufax did not see any action. In the dugout, he had the best seat in Ebbets Field as he watched the Dodgers win their only championship in Brooklyn.

Pleased with Koufax’s strong rookie performance in 1955, Dodgers leadership hoped that he would be immune from the sophomore jinx, the belief that a player performing well in his first season rarely does well in his second season.

During the 1956 season, Koufax was again infrequently used in home games. His first four appearances (one in April and three in May) were in a relief role. Thereafter, Koufax was limited to four home appearances, all as a starter. He did not play at Ebbets Field after August 5. For the second consecutive season, Koufax did not appear in the World Series, which the Dodgers lost in seven games to their crosstown rival Yankees.

Looking back at season’s end, Koufax did experience the feared sophomore slump. He pitched only 18 innings at Ebbets Field and was ineffective. Opponents batted .354 against him. His record of no wins, two losses, an ERA of 7.50, WHIP of 2.167, K/9 of 4.0, and K/W of 0.73 statistically evidence his dismal second season at his home ballpark.

Koufax’s away-game statistics starkly contrasted with his Ebbets Field performance (opponents batting average .250, ERA 3.76, WHIP of 1.38, K/9 of 4.9, and a K/W of 1.22). Overall, he was good enough to remain on the Dodgers roster. However, starting in May 1957 there were no restrictions on the Dodgers’ ability to assign him to the minor leagues.

As Koufax and the Dodgers finished spring training in 1957 in Vero Beach, the outlook for a new ballpark in Brooklyn was bleak. Surrounded by uncertainty about their future in Brooklyn, the Dodgers fell out of contention early in the season. For his third season, the Dodgers failing to contend for the pennant meant Koufax had increased opportunity and more appearances.

Overall, Koufax’s 1957 season at Ebbets Field was much better than the downbeat 1956 season but was again unremarkable. Appearing in 17 games, seven as a starter and 10 in relief, Koufax had a 3-1 record and an ERA of 3.70. His superior season was attributed to improved control. In 56 innings, he had 67 strikeouts and walked only 23. Improvement to his WHIP (1.250), K/9 (10.8), and K/BB (2.91) offer evidence of his improved command. The game on September 20, 1957, against the Philadelphia Phillies turned out to be Koufax’s last appearance on the Ebbets Field mound. Entering with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Koufax retired the only batter he faced.

In October 1957 it was officially announced that the Dodgers were moving to Los Angeles. After three years of infrequent use and long periods of inactivity, Koufax bade farewell to Ebbets Field. He would now have a new home ballpark, 3,000 miles from his hometown.

To lure the franchise to Los Angeles, the Dodgers were deeded 300 acres of land to build a modern stadium in the Chavez Ravine section of Los Angeles. The plan was to develop the site with a baseball-only super-stadium to be known as Dodger Stadium.

However, the completion of Dodger Stadium was still four baseball seasons away. In the interim, the Dodgers needed a temporary home ballpark. After considering the Rose Bowl in suburban Pasadena and the Los Angeles-based, minor-league Wrigley Field, the club selected the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Coliseum, a bowl-shaped stadium with a seating capacity of over 90,000 for baseball, was used as a multisport facility, predominantly for college and NFL football. Fitting an appropriate ballpark into a stadium of the Coliseum’s shape and size was challenging. Far from ideal for baseball, the ballpark had to be situated in the west end of the stadium to keep the sun from blinding fielders’ eyes. In the end, the large seating capacity and its revenue potential outweighed the concerns that the Coliseum was ill-suited for baseball.

Expectedly, the configuration of the Dodgers home field within the Coliseum was highly irregular. Down the left-field line, the six-foot-high chain-link outfield fence was only 251 feet from home plate. Angling sharply toward center field, the fence was only 320 feet in left-center field and a cavernous 420 feet in dead center field. The fence angled back to the first-base foul pole, 380 feet in right-center field and only 300 feet down the first-base line. To allay concerns about the potential for an inordinate number of home runs to right field, a 42-foot-high screen was installed. The screen extended from the left-field foul pole to dead center field. For the first 140 feet, the screen was 42 feet high. Over the next 30 feet it cantilevered down to a height of 8 feet and then to 6 feet in center field.

Foul territory was negligible down the first-base line and massive down the third-base line. The fan experience lacked the intimacy of Ebbets Field. The Coliseum’s bowl seating meant poor sight lines. At its worst, seats were almost another ballpark away, 710 feet from home plate.

The Coliseum was clearly not a pitcher-friendly park–particularly for left-handers like Koufax with such a favorable configuration for right-handed pull hitters.

During his first year pitching in the Coliseum, Koufax appeared in 17 home games, 12 as a starter and five as a reliever. His inaugural appearance was pitching the ninth inning of a 15-2 blowout loss to the Cubs. In his one inning, he allowed a hit and no runs for a successful debut. Thereafter, the 1958 season at the Coliseum did not go well for Koufax. He won just two games and lost another six. An inability to consistently throw strikes resulted in 49 walks in 62 2/3 innings and contributed to an ERA of 5.60. He gave up 12 home runs. As a starter, he struggled, completing five innings or less in eight of his 12 starts. Relative to the previous season at Ebbets Field, Koufax’s control had declined (WHIP 1.66; K/9 7.6; K/BB 1.08).

The 1958 season did end with a positive outing, although Koufax still ended up on the losing end. In the second game of a doubleheader, he pitched a complete game, with the Cubs winning 2-1. Allowing five hits and one earned run, he had nine strikeouts, but lacked control, walking a season-high seven batters.

The conclusion of the 1958 season meant that Koufax had completed the four-year development horizon originally projected for him. Playing in the strangely configured Coliseum was, as expected, challenging for pitchers, especially left-handers like him. Adapting to his interim home ballpark and harnessing his control were mandatory prerequisites for a successful 1959 season.

The Dodgers used Koufax in home games during the 1959 season in a similar manner to the previous four years. He appeared in 15 games, 10 as a starter and five as a reliever. His control nicely improved as walks per nine innings decreased to 4.4 from 7. His K/9 increased significantly to 11.1 from 7.6. He was also better at keeping the ball in the ballpark, reducing home runs per nine innings to 1.5 from 1.7.

Noteworthy was Koufax’s start on August 31, 1959. Pitching before a Coliseum crowd of 82,794 (60,194 paid), he displayed his full potential. He went the distance in a 5-2 win against the San Francisco Giants and tied the modern National League single-game strikeout record by whiffing 18 Giants.4 Of the final 17 outs, 15 were by strikeout, including a near-immaculate inning in the ninth as Koufax struck out the Giants on just 10 pitches.

The Dodgers ended the 1959 154-game schedule tied with the Milwaukee Braves. Sweeping a best-of-three-game tiebreaker series, the Dodgers won the pennant and would face the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. The pennant-clinching game was a dramatic 6-5 12-inning win for the Dodgers. Koufax faced five batters in the ninth inning and did not give up any hits or runs despite walking three batters.

In Game Five of the Dodgers-White Sox World Series at the Coliseum, Koufax made his first postseason start. He pitched well, going seven innings and giving up five hits and one run, while striking out six and walking one. Despite nine hits, including a triple by Gil Hodges, the Dodgers were shut out 1-0 by White Sox starter Bob Shaw and a strong Chicago bullpen. The Dodgers beat the White Sox in six games for their second World Series championship in the first five years of Koufax’s career.

The Dodgers were looking for consistency from Koufax in the 1960 season as they sought to win back-to-back World Series. Koufax had shown signs that he was adapting to the Coliseum. However, his 1960 performance was eerily like 1958, his first season in the Coliseum. A home record of 1-7 and an ERA of 5.27 was very disappointing for him and the Dodgers. Control problems returned as Koufax walked 49 in 70 innings (6.3 per nine innings). His WHIP increased to 1.60, K/9 declined to 9.1, and K/BB decreased to 1.45. Despite this, he set a career high for home appearances with 19. He started 11 times and relieved in eight games. Success was elusive as a starter. In seven of his 11 starts in the Coliseum, he lasted fewer than 5 1/3 innings.

The 1961 season was the last of four seasons that the Dodgers played in the Coliseum. Entering his seventh season in the major leagues, having just celebrated his 25th birthday, Koufax was used more frequently, predominantly as a starter. Starting in 18 of his 21 appearances, Koufax pitched a personal-high 132⅓ innings at home. He had a 9-8 record for a Dodgers team that was 89-65. Improving his control (WHIP 1.29; K/9 9.9; K/BB 2.84) and keeping the ball in the park were keys to a better final season in the less than ideally configured Coliseum.

Koufax’s last appearance at the Coliseum was on September 20, 1961. It was also the last game the Dodgers played in this temporary home. They won 3-2 over the Chicago Cubs. Koufax pitched an amazing 13-inning complete game, striking out 15 batters while walking only three and allowing seven hits.

Signs of Koufax’s potential were displayed best when he was not pitching at the Coliseum. For example, on the road in National League ballparks in 1961, he appeared in the same number of away games as home games but had a 9-5 record and an ERA of 2.77, better by 1.5 runs. Koufax’s ascension to star status began in 1961 as he was named to the All-Star team and led the National League in strikeouts.

The Coliseum, as Koufax’s home ballpark, was a nemesis to his development as a major-league pitcher. Over his four seasons there, he compiled a record of 17 wins and 23 losses and an ERA of 4.33. Control continued to be a struggle. Even an increase in appearances at the Coliseum did not result in improved control (WHIP 1.41; K/9 9.6; K/BB 1.95). But he did have some great games. The Dodgers were patient with his development as Koufax was now three years past the original four-year development plan. Continuing to be on the Dodgers roster reflected the potential he displayed over the past two seasons as a visitor in National League ballparks.

For the 1962 season, finally the Dodgers would fully settle into their brand-new home; Dodger Stadium, opened for a new era of Dodger baseball.

Nestled in the hillside of Chavez Ravine, the setting of Dodger Stadium is beautiful. To the south, it overlooks downtown Los Angeles. To the north, the San Gabriel mountains and palm trees provide a picturesque background.

Built over three years at a cost of $23 million, Dodger Stadium’s five seating levels provided for a capacity of 56,000. The first four levels extended from the right-field foul pole to the left-field foul pole. The uppermost level reached from the first-base side to the third-base side.

Quite unlike the Coliseum, the configuration of this ballpark was symmetrical. The right-field and the left-field lines were 330 feet from home plate, right-center and left-center were 375 feet, and dead center measured 395 feet. Consistent with other ballparks of that era, the playing surface was grass.

Dodger Stadium was considered a pitcher’s ballpark, significantly different from Ebbets Field and, of course, the Coliseum. The environment in Chavez Ravine was pitcher-friendly, as the heavy evening air restricted fly balls that would have been home runs in the earlier home ballparks. Dodger Stadium’s more expansive outfield and regular-sized foul territory were positive features for pitchers.

In his first game at Dodger Stadium, the second game played there, Koufax commenced what became his remarkable career turnaround. He defeated the Reds with a complete-game 6-2 victory. The Reds managed only four hits (two singles and two doubles). Koufax had seven strikeouts and three walks.

On June 30 he made his 11th start at Dodger Stadium, against the New York Mets. Striking out 13 but walking five, Koufax managed through control issues to pitch the first no-hitter of his career. But after the no-hitter, he would make only two more starts at Dodger Stadium that season.

In mid-July, Koufax experienced physical ailments. A circulatory problem in his index finger and shoulder pain sidelined him for much of the second half of the season. He made one final start at home on September 27. In a no-decision outing, he pitched five innings (three hits, two runs) in a Dodgers’ loss to Houston.

Koufax was brilliant at Dodger Stadium during the 1962 season. He started in all his 13 appearances and achieved seven complete games. His record of 7-4 included two losses by one run and another loss by two runs. Koufax pitched 102 1/3 innings and had an ERA of 1.75. With 118 strikeouts and only 25 walks, his turnaround vis-a-vis his final season at the Coliseum was remarkable. Control had been harnessed (WHIP 0.91; K/9 10.3; K/BB 4.72).

Though curtailed by injury, Koufax’s performance in Dodger Stadium during the 1962 season was a precursor to the dominance that he would have in the National League in the seasons ahead.

The 1963 season was the first in a magnificent four-year run. Recovered from his injury setbacks and enjoying his new home ballpark, Koufax elevated his performance and completely dominated National League opponents in Dodger Stadium.

In front of 49,807 fans on May 11, 1963, Koufax pitched a no-hitter as the Dodgers won 8-0 over the Giants. He struck out four and walked two. It was his second career no-hitter, both at Dodger Stadium.

Koufax’s no-hitter made him a headliner at Dodger Stadium for each game he started. Not surprisingly, it was generally acknowledged that an extra 5,000 to 10,000 fans would buy tickets to watch a Koufax start at Dodger Stadium.

In 1963 Koufax showed that he was a clutch pitcher in a tight pennant race. In late August the Dodgers led the Giants and the Cardinals by 5½ and 6½ games respectively. The Cardinals embarked on a hot streak, winning 19 of 20 games. From August 21, Koufax made six starts at home, all Dodgers wins including victories over the Cardinals and Giants. Opponents were limited to nine runs in those six starts totaling 51⅓ innings.

The Dodgers won the pennant in 1963. Koufax started Game Four of the World Series at Dodger Stadium against the Yankees with the Dodgers leading three victories to none. He led the Dodgers to a complete-game win and a World Series sweep. He gave up one run on six hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts.

As a starter in all 17 of his appearances, Koufax pitched 143 1/3 innings, a personal high for innings pitched in his home ballpark. He won 11 games and lost one. Ten complete-game appearances including six shutouts were evidence of his dominance on the mound.

A home ERA of 1.38 contributed to his winning a well-earned National League ERA title (1.88). His control continued to improve (WHIP 0.74; K/9 9.0; K/BB 6.26). A Koufax start at Dodger Stadium put fear into National League hitters, who hit a dismal .164 against him.

The 1964 season started with much promise as Koufax pitched the home opener, a 4-0 shutout over St. Louis. His start on August 16 was his last home appearance that year. After his final start, a 3-0 shutout win over St. Louis, he was diagnosed with traumatic arthritis, a chronic ailment that put his career on a limited timeline.

Remarkably, Koufax was even more outstanding at Dodger Stadium during the 1964 season. He finished with a home record of 12-2. Since his no-hitter against the Mets in June 1962, Koufax’s home record was an incredible 25 wins and 3 losses.

Appearing in 15 games, all but one as a starter, Koufax took his dominance to an unprecedented level. His home ERA, a minuscule 0.85, meant another National League ERA title (1.74). Facing Koufax, opponents’ bats went silent at Dodger Stadium, hitting only .179, and his control remained at elite levels (WHIP 0.783; K/9 8.7; K/BB 6.89).

The 1965 season saw Koufax pick up right where he left off after his injury-shortened 1964 season. At home, he continued to trounce opponents. Used solely as a starter with appearances in a personal high of 20 home games, amazingly Koufax pitched 14 complete games and had a home record of 14-3.

The 1965 National League season ended with a memorable pennant race between the Dodgers and the Giants. Consistent with previous Septembers, Koufax was unbeatable at Dodger Stadium in that pennant race.

The game on September 9 against the Chicago Cubs stands alone in the annals of baseball history. Dodgers outfielder Lou Johnson had the only hit in the game, a 1-0 Dodgers victory. Koufax retired all 27 Cubs in order. This game has been marvelously chronicled in Jane Leavy’s book, Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy.5 It was Koufax’s first perfect game and third no-hitter at Dodger Stadium.

Following that perfect game were three complete games including two shutouts and a 3-1 victory over Milwaukee. Koufax’s stats for those four September starts are unbelievable–wins 4; losses 0; IP 36; hits 11; runs 1; K 52; BB 8. The Dodgers won 15 of their final 16 games to claim the pennant.

The Dodgers faced the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. With the teams tied at two victories each, Koufax started and won Game Five at Dodger Stadium. His mastery of opponents in late-season and postseason home games continued; he blanked the Twins 7-0. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in seven games.

Koufax bravely faced the 1966 season through much physical suffering. With chronic injuries afflicting him, a decline in performance would have been expected. His performance did decline relative to his otherworldly seasons of 1963 to 1965 but he remained the most elite pitcher in major-league baseball.

Koufax appeared in 21 home games, a career high. His statistics were awesome and remarkably consistent to those of his previous season. Opponents’ batting average increased to only .202. His ERA at Dodger Stadium was 1.52 with three shutouts and six one-run games.

The final month of the 1966 season featured another tight pennant race with the Giants. As in September 1963 and September 1965, Koufax was at his best when it mattered most. This time four Koufax starts at home in September resulted in three Dodgers wins. In 34 innings, he allowed only four runs.

The Dodgers won the pennant for the second consecutive year and were at home for Game Two of the 1966 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. His final game at Dodger Stadium was not the dominant Koufax that fans had seen in recent pennant races and World Series. Betrayed by weak Dodgers hitting and poor fielding, Koufax exited his home ballpark stage after six innings as he took the loss in a 6-0 defeat. The Dodgers were swept by the Orioles.

Koufax’s final home game at Dodger Stadium closed the latter portion of his career.

Statistically, there was a consequential difference between the seven Ebbets Field/Coliseum seasons and the five Dodger Stadium seasons.

For decades after Koufax’s retirement, analysts and commentators have tried to assign meaning to the marked contrast in Koufax and his home ballparks and the trajectory of his success. One interpretation espouses the idea that Koufax owed a lot of his success to the configuration of and location of Dodger Stadium.6 The dimensions of the ballpark and climatic conditions were most favorable to him and his skills. In other words, what really happened to Koufax was that he moved from a park that was conspiring to stifle his abilities to a park that was a great fit for him. Following this view, some have concluded that he is the most overrated left-handed starter of all time.7 This view is argued by giving greater weight to the Ebbets Field/Coliseum mediocre years of his career.

Despite the controversy, most find the Sandy Koufax story inspiring. As a late bloomer, he is held up as an inspiration for the importance of focus, perseverance, patience, and encouragement. Metaphorically, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles was truly Koufax’s promised land–a home ballpark that was the setting for his liberation and emergence as the most dominant pitcher in major-league baseball history.

PAUL SINCLAIR retired after a 38-year career as an investment professional for a leading Canadian life insurance company. A graduate of the University of Toronto, he is a lifelong Toronto resident, baseball player, and fan. As a player he tried out for both the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays. Highlights of his lifelong fandom include watching spring training with the Detroit Tigers in the mid-’70s, enduring the snow and cold of the first Blue Jays game ever and throwing out the first pitch at a Blue Jays game in August 2015.

 

NOTES

1 Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn, Koufax (New York: Viking Press, 1966), 64-65.

2 Dave Anderson, “Jewish Southpaw From Boro a Natural for Ebbets Field,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 17, 1954: 27.

3 Koufax, 100-101.

4 Warren Spahn of the Boston Braves had struck out 18 Chicago Cubs on June 14, 1952.

5 Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy (New York: Perennial, 2003).

6 Cody Swartz, “Why Sandy Koufax Owes a LOT of His Success to Dodger Stadium,” Bleacher Report, July 2, 2009. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/211023-why-sandy-koufax-owes-a-lot-of-his-success-to-dodger-stadium.

7 Jayson Stark, “Left-Handed Starting Pitchers,” in The Stark Truth (Chicago: Triumph Books, 2007), 15-19.