by Mark Langill
One of the lasting images from the 2025 World Series was that of an 89-year-old man patiently sitting behind home plate for the entire six-hour, 39-minute Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.
Some fans nearby in the Dugout Club, along with television viewers around the world, given occasional updates on the Hall of Famer’s presence, might’ve marveled, “Can you believe Sandy Koufax lasted for all 18 innings?”
Those who watched the left-hander in his prime with the Dodgers during the 1960s would be amused by the premise of Koufax leaving a game early.
Koufax’s imposing pitching likeness is still frozen in time, thanks to a bronze statue in the Centerfield Plaza. It depicts the early ease of a windup that preceded a devastating fastball or curve, both unleashed with the fluid, effective motion of a catapult.
His age, like it did when the Brooklyn native signed with the Dodgers as a raw prospect and when he walked away from the game a decade later in his prime, again is making headlines.
The former wonderkid turns 90 today.
Don’t bother looking for a high-profile birthday bash.
Koufax prefers to soar under the radar, dating back to his playing days when he blossomed into the greatest pitcher of his generation.
His 12-year career was divided into two cities and three home ballparks. Because of his bonus contract signed on Dec. 14, 1954, Koufax had to stay in Brooklyn’s Major League roster for two years.
Despite early struggles with consistency and a 36–40 record in his first six seasons, Koufax never spent a day in the Minor Leagues.
Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda famously claimed “it took the greatest left-hander in history” to keep him off the Dodger roster when Lasorda was a Triple-A pitcher at Montreal.
Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame outfielder, always had a retort when hearing Lasorda’s one-liner about Koufax blocking his path to the Majors.
“Yeah, and every National League hitter,” Snider said.
In eight games with Brooklyn during parts of the 1954 and 1955 seasons, Lasorda went 0–0 with a 7.62 ERA.
While Lasorda peaked as a Triple-A pitcher, going 17–8 at Montreal in 1953, there was no ceiling on Koufax’s potential.
Koufax’s first Major League win was a 14-strikeout performance in a 7–0 complete game over Cincinnati on Aug. 27, 1955.
But the Dodgers were a veteran team loaded with talent, running away with the 1955 NL pennant and winning the first World Series in franchise history. The rookie Koufax contributed a 2–2 record and 3.02 ERA in 12 games (five starts) innings with 30 strikeouts and 28 walks in 41 2/3 innings.
His career turned on a dime during a 1961 Spring Training game in against the Minnesota Twins in Orlando, Florida. Pitcher Ed Palmquist had missed the flight, so there were no reserves when Koufax walked the bases loaded in the first inning.
Catcher Norm Sherry, worried about a long afternoon, told Koufax to “relax, just let them hit the ball.” When Koufax eased up, the velocity and movement suddenly changed.
Koufax was actually throwing the ball harder.
During the final two seasons of a career that prematurely ended because of arthritis in his pitching elbow, Koufax compiled a combined 53–17 record in 1965 and 1966 with a 1.89 ERA and 13 shutouts. He completed 54 of his 84 regular season starts while averaging 329 innings and 349 strikeouts.
Former teammate Wes Parker recalled that at the height of Koufax’s fame, he usually ordered room service at the team hotel to avoid the crowds in the lobby on the hunt for his picture or autograph.
“Once he got on the bus, it was a chance to be with his pals. We didn’t intrude on his privacy or fame,” Parker said of Koufax. “We just treated him like one of the guys, which is exactly how he wanted to be treated.”
Koufax has been a member of the Hall of Fame for more than a half century. His 1972 induction year coincided with the first three retired uniform numbers in Dodger history: Koufax (32), Roy Campanella (39) and Jackie Robinson (42).
With the passings of broadcaster Vin Scully and Lasorda, who found his niche as a Hall of Fame manager with two World Series titles, Koufax represents one of the final links to multiple eras and moments.
With one inning of relief at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium on Sept. 19. 1957, Koufax became the last pitcher in Brooklyn Dodger history. He is the last surviving member of the 1955 Dodgers, Brooklyn’s first and only championship team.
Parker’s most vivid recollection of Koufax was not a particular game, but his pitching motion.
“That doesn’t mean you have a herky-jerky windup and not be effective,” he said. “But Sandy had such a perfect pitching form. You could never go wrong with that form.”
Parker’s favorite scouting report on Koufax came courtesy of Scully as the pair passed time on a team bus.
“Vin said, ‘Sandy is not a great athlete. He can’t hit. He has no pickoff move to first base. He can’t field his position. He can’t bunt. But he’s a specialist. And one of the greatest specialists that ever lived.”
Koufax at 90: Celebrating a legend was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.