HAPPY BIRTHDAY to SANDY KOUFAX!

[DODGER DEB]

Today, December 30th, SANDY KOUFAX turns 70. Hard to believe that the "baby" of OUR team, who was born and raised in BROOKLYN, and who was signed by OUR BROOKLYN DODGERS in 1954 as a Bonus Baby, is now 70 years of age.

A wish for the happiest of birthdays "K", with many happy returns.

c.

Originally Posted by DODGER DEB

Today, December 30th, SANDY KOUFAX turns 70. Hard to believe that the "baby" of OUR team, who was born and raised in BROOKLYN, and who was signed by OUR BROOKLYN DODGERS in 1954 as a Bonus Baby, is now 70 years of age.

A wish for the happiest of birthdays "K", with many happy returns.

c.

Thanks a lot, Deb!

I'll be hitting that number myself in a few months, and the last thing I needed was a reminder of how quickly time has passed!

Seriously, though, it is hard to believe that it's been almost forty years since we were treated to the sight of that fluid, over-the-top delivery...the crackling fast ball...the back-breaking curve...and the fierce competitive spirit that drove him to be the very best when it mattered the most.

I wish he had done it all while remaining in Brooklyn, but even so, he left us with a host of unforgettable performances and thrilling memories.

He has my wishes too for continued good health and long life.

[DODGER DEB]

Here's "K" at Vero Beach with OUR "B" on his cap.....

From an eBay listing.

c.

[Elvis]

World Series Game 4, October 6, 1963

Sandy Koufax beats the Yanks again 2–1 for a shocking World Series sweep for the Dodgers. Whitey Ford gives up only two hits, both by Frank Howard, who crashes a long home run in the 5th to start the LA scoring. The Bronx Bombers bat just .171 and score only four runs, the 2nd lowest total in World Series history.

Photo by Dean Gordon - Hollywood Citizen News/Valley Times Collection

[64Cards]

I read somewhere, around 1980, Sandy was at spring training working with the Dodgers and would pitch BP. His stuff was still so good, that Lasorda approached him about making a comeback, wanted to use him strictly as a 1 inning closer. Supposedly Sandy gave it some thought, no doubt enticed by the big bucks and the chance to compete, but I guess he realized that all he could probably do was tarnish his legend. Plus it would have been a media circus with the attention, something a class act like Koufax loathed.

[Elvis]

1981...he still had it.



LA Public Library

[Elvis]

July 7, 1980... All-Star Game "Weekend"



LA Public Library

[Elvis]

L.A. County Supervisor Warren Dorn and Jackie Robinson, congratulate Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax following 2-1 win over San Francisco Giants.

June 17, 1965



LA Public Library

[runningshoes]

Does anyone have any recent pictures of Sandy?

The last time I saw him was the 1997 HOF inductions.

[Elvis]

From left to right: Frank Sinatra, Sandy Koufax, Buzzie Bavasi and Dean Martin stand at the head table for a C.C. Banquet.

December 4, 1963



LA Public Library

[Elvis]

From this year...



Chieftain.com

[runningshoes]

He still looks good for his age.

[64Cards]

Great pictures Elvis, it's not hard at all to imagine Koufax making a comeback in 1980. I've still never seen a better pitcher!

[DODGER DEB]

Here is "K" noting his FOUR NO-HITTERS.....

From an eBay listing.

c.

[EbtsFldGuy]

After reading the Jane Leavy book two years ago, I was intruiged by Sandy K's post-baseball life. Seems he has moved often, in order to preserve his near-recluse status.

For a while he worked for the Dodgers as a minor league aid, and I remember him working TV games for NBC right after he retired, but he did not last long.

What is he up to now?

[chiefpaddy]

Originally Posted by EbtsFldGuy

After reading the Jane Leavy book two years ago, I was intruiged by Sandy K's post-baseball life. Seems he has moved often, in order to preserve his near-recluse status.

For a while he worked for the Dodgers as a minor league aid, and I remember him working TV games for NBC right after he retired, but he did not last long.

What is he up to now?

Wasn't he doing some sort of work for the Mets recently? At least we saw glimpses of Sandy's future greatness in Ebbets Field. In both 55and 56 Sandy had a couple of super games. In 57 Sandy was pitching well the first three months of the seasonand going into June was leading the National League in strikeouts. Then for some reason he didn't get many starts for the rest of the season.

[KCGHOST]

Happy Birthday to my all-time favorite player.

[stan opdyke]

Originally Posted by 64Cards

I read somewhere, around 1980, Sandy was at spring training working with the Dodgers and would pitch BP. His stuff was still so good, that Lasorda approached him about making a comeback, wanted to use him strictly as a 1 inning closer. Supposedly Sandy gave it some thought, no doubt enticed by the big bucks and the chance to compete, but I guess he realized that all he could probably do was tarnish his legend. Plus it would have been a media circus with the attention, something a class act like Koufax loathed.

What I heard is that Sandy had the best split finger fastball of anyone in the Dodger organization in the early 80's. Sandy had such big hands it is not difficult to believe he would be able to throw that pitch. Best pitcher I have ever seen by far. One of the favorite items I have is a tape of the radio broadcast of a game he pitched in Ebbets Field in 1957 against the Cubs, with Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett doing the play by play. I like to close my eyes and imagine being at Ebbets Field when I listen to it. I spent plenty of time when I was a kid in Shibe Park (aka Connie Mack Stadium) so at least I have some personal memories of being in an old time ballpark before the advent of video screens and loud music over the p.a. system.

Stan

[crzblue]

This is my desktop picture. It brings a smile to my face to look at it. It is also from the L.A. Library.



Emma

[donzblock]

That is a nice picture, but what is that thing on Sandy's head?

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by donzblock

That is a nice picture, but what is that thing on Sandy's head?

I believe it's the cap he's weraing in his Hall of Fame plaque. What's on your head?

[donzblock]

Originally Posted by Elvis9045

I believe it's the cap he's weraing in his Hall of Fame plaque. What's on your head?

You are forgiven, my son.

[64Cards]

Originally Posted by chiefpaddy

Wasn't he doing some sort of work for the Mets recently? At least we saw glimpses of Sandy's future greatness in Ebbets Field. In both 55and 56 Sandy had a couple of super games. In 57 Sandy was pitching well the first three months of the seasonand going into June was leading the National League in strikeouts. Then for some reason he didn't get many starts for the rest of the season.

A cynic might suggest that a local Jewish kid, who was leading the league in strikeouts, might fill Ebbetts Field for virtually every start if he continued his success and make it difficult for the owner to plead poverty so he could move his franchise across the continent.

[stan opdyke]

Originally Posted by 64Cards

A cynic might suggest that a local Jewish kid, who was leading the league in strikeouts, might fill Ebbetts Field for virtually every start if he continued his success and make it difficult for the owner to plead poverty so he could move his franchise across the continent.

I don't think (I won't say his name on this site) could plead poverty. Perhaps I am wrong about this, but I suspect that the Dodgers would be worth more in Brooklyn than they are in LA. If I was the baseball commissioner I would let Arte Moreno move his team to Chavez Ravine, put expansion teams in Anaheim and Buffalo, and move the Dodgers (minus McCourt) back to Brooklyn. 32 teams, 4 divisions, 2 leagues, no wildcards or division series, the LCS followed by the WS, with a baseball world cup to conclude the season by the end of October. The Brooklyn team would play in a place that looked a lot like Ebbets Field, and to bring this back to the subject of this thread, I would invite Sandy Koufax to throw out the first pitch in the new ballpark

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by stan opdyke

I don't think (I won't say his name on this site) could plead poverty. Perhaps I am wrong about this, but I suspect that the Dodgers would be worth more in Brooklyn than they are in LA. If I was the baseball commissioner I would let Arte Moreno move his team to Chavez Ravine, put expansion teams in Anaheim and Buffalo, and move the Dodgers (minus McCourt) back to Brooklyn. 32 teams, 4 divisions, 2 leagues, no wildcards or division series, the LCS followed by the WS, with a baseball world cup to conclude the season by the end of October. The Brooklyn team would play in a place that looked a lot like Ebbets Field, and to bring this back to the subject of this thread, I would invite Sandy Koufax to throw out the first pitch in the new ballpark

If I were Commissioner I'd contract every team in MLB except the Giants and Dodgers, end world poverty, cure cancer and halitosis, and declare Brittany Spears' Birthday a National Holiday.