Tag: Sandy Koufax

AUG 27: A star is born

AUGUST  27, 1955 | BROOKLYN, NEW YORK • On this date, Sandy Koufax, a young, raw, Brooklyn-born, former basketball star from the University of Cincinnati, 

got his second major league start for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He two-hit the Cincinnati Reds 7-0. The 19-year old struck out 14.

It took a while for Koufax to be polished into a gem. As a kid, Koufax showed more promise in basketball. So much so that he got a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. In an odd twist of fate, the freshman basketball coach, Ed Jucker, was the varsity baseball coach. When baseball season came along, Koufax pitched a few games for the Bearcat baseball team. He was raw. In 31 innings, he walked 30, but struck out 51. A Dodger scout saw the potential. Koufax was offered a bonus to leave the University of Cincinnati and the basketball team for baseball, which he did.

Once he put it all together, Koufax dominated. He was 129-47 from 1961 to 1966. He won the Cy Young award in 1963, 1965 and 1966 by unanimous votes. All three seasons he led the majors in wins, strikeouts and ERA – the pitching Triple Crown – and was MVP of the World Series in ’63 and ‘65. Koufax threw 4 no-hitters and 1 perfect game.

Unfortunately for him, and baseball fans who marveled at his ability, Koufax’s career ended early. He retired at 31 when arthritis in his throwing elbow threatened permanent disability.

Contributing sources: 
“Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy,” by Jane Leavy, Harper Collins, 2002  
Koufax Reunites with Coach Jucker,” UC Magazine, University of Cincinnati   
Sandy Koufax

DEC 30: The great Sanford Braun

DECEMBER 30, 1965 | BROOKLYN, NEW YORK • The great Sanford Braun was born on this date in 1935.  Sanford who? Braun? Never heard of him.
He won 3 Cy Young awards
He’s in the Hall of Fame
He’s one of the greatest pitchers of all-time

You never heard of him? That’s because he’s better known as Sandy Koufax.

Koufax was born to Evelyn and Jack Braun, but his parents divorced when he was a child. His mother remarried Irving Koufax.

Sandy Koufax played baseball and basketball growing up. In fact, attended the University of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship. He impressed baseball scouts enough though that they offered him a contract in 1954.

Koufax’s major league baseball career was not long, eleven years (1955 to 1966). It took him a few seasons to harness his talent, but for a six year stretch he was as dominating a pitcher as there’s ever been.

From 1961 to 1966:

  • He won 129 games, losing just 47
  • His ERA was 2.76, lead the league 5 of those six year, 3 seasons his ERA was under 2.00
  • Lead the league in strikeouts 4 times, striking out more than 300 three times
  • Won 3 Cy Young awards

He ranks 19th in the major leagues in winning percentage (.655).

Arm trouble forced Koufax to retire at age 30. The great Sanford Braun was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Sandy Koufax
Biography.com
Jewish Virtual Library

DEC 4-No more bonus babies

DECEMBER 4, 1964 | HOUSTON, TEXAS • It was trumpeted as the end of the “bonus baby” – the throwing of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of dollars (a lot of money in those days) at wide-eyed kids expected to become the next Mickey Mantle or Sandy Koufax. Too often these “can’t miss” prospects didn’t pan out. The owners wanted no more bonus babies.

They met in Houston on this date in 1964 to put an end to the chasing of unproven kids by hordes of scouts with wads of cash. Instead, the owners approved an amateur draft. The first one was held in 1965.

Below are the first ten #1 picks. Some had decent careers. Most were mediocre. Some, well, have you ever head of Steve Chilcott — the #1 pick in the 1966 draft? Probably not because he never made it to the big leagues. The second pick that year was Reggie Jackson.

1965 Rick Monday, Kansas City A’s
1966 Steve Chilcott, New York Mets
1967 Ron Blomberg, New York Yankees
1968 Tim Foli, New York Mets
1969 Jeff Burroughs, Washington Senators
1970 Mike Ivie, San Diego Padres
1971 Danny Goodwin, Chicago White Sox
1972 Dave Roberts, San Diego Padres
1973 David Clyde, Texas Rangers
1974 Bill Almon, San Diego Padres

There is still chasing after kids and some significant bonuses because the team that drafts the player retains the rights to signing a him only for a period of time until the next year’s draft. If a prospect is not signed he can re-enter a future draft and be chosen by any team but the one which selected him the previous year, unless the player consents.

Generally, those eligible to be drafted are:
•  Residents of the US or Canada including Puerto Rico and other territories
•  HS grads who have not yet attended college or junior college
•  College players who have completed their junior year
•  Junior college players
•  Players 21-years of age and older

While there are no more bonus babies, “free agency” has driven salaries into another stratosphere.

Sources/more information:
Complete draft information
Amateur draft rules 
United Press International, Houston, Texas, December 5, 1964