Sandy Koufax Timeline

(December 30, 1935 - Present)

Sandy Koufax was a dominant left-handed pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1955-1966). Despite retiring at age 30 due to arthritis in his pitching elbow, he amassed an extraordinary legacy, including three Cy Young Awards, four World Series titles, four no-hitters, and a perfect game. Koufax is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and Amateur Career

Sandy Koufax is born in Brooklyn, New York

Dec 30, 1935

Sanford Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. He would grow up in the borough's Bensonhurst neighborhood and become one of baseball's most legendary pitchers.

Image source: Sandy Koufax

Parents divorce and mother remarries Irving Koufax

Jan 1, 1938

After his parents' divorce, Sandy's mother Evelyn remarried attorney Irving Koufax, who adopted Sandy. The family moved to Rockville Centre on Long Island during his childhood before returning to Brooklyn.

Attends Lafayette High School in Brooklyn

Sep 1, 1950

Koufax attended Lafayette High School in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, where he excelled at basketball and baseball. He was primarily known as a basketball player but also starred as a left-handed pitcher.

Image source: Lafayette High School (New York City)

Plays college basketball at University of Cincinnati

Sep 1, 1953

Koufax accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, playing on the freshman team. He also pitched for the school's baseball team, going 3-1 with an ERA under 3.00.

Signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a bonus baby

Dec 14, 1954

At age 19, Koufax signed a bonus contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Under the bonus rule of the time, he had to remain on the major league roster for two full seasons, limiting his development.

Major League Career

Makes major league debut with the Dodgers

Jun 24, 1955

Koufax made his MLB debut against the Milwaukee Braves at age 19. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief in what was the beginning of a Hall of Fame career.

Struggles through early years with control problems

Apr 1, 1956 - Oct 1, 1960

During his first six seasons, Koufax showed flashes of brilliance but struggled mightily with wildness, walking nearly as many batters as he struck out while seeing limited action behind stars like Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres.

Dodgers relocate from Brooklyn to Los Angeles

Apr 10, 1958

The Dodgers moved west to Los Angeles before the 1958 season. Koufax went with the franchise, which played its early seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before Dodger Stadium opened.

Image source: Los Angeles Dodgers

Throws one-hitter against the Giants

Aug 31, 1959

Koufax threw a one-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants, striking out 18 batters to tie the National League record at the time, signaling that he was beginning to harness his electric stuff.

Breakout season as a starter

Apr 1, 1961 - Oct 1, 1961

In 1961, Koufax became a full-time starting pitcher and won 18 games with 269 strikeouts, marking his transformation from wild bonus prospect into a dominant ace.

Wins NL MVP and Cy Young Award unanimously

Nov 1, 1963

Koufax went 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 1963, winning both the National League MVP and the Cy Young Award by unanimous vote.

Image source: 1963 Major League Baseball season

Throws no-hitter against Philadelphia Phillies

Jun 4, 1964

Koufax tossed his first official no-hitter, blanking the Phillies at Dodger Stadium despite suffering a jammed elbow during the game that foreshadowed later injury problems.

Image source: Sandy Koufax's perfect game

Throws perfect game against Chicago Cubs

Sep 9, 1965

Koufax pitched a perfect game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium, striking out 14 and retiring all 27 batters. Catcher Jeff Torborg caught it. It was Koufax's fourth no-hitter, then a major league record, and is often called the greatest-pitched game in history. Note: the correct date is Sep 9, 1965.

Throws second no-hitter against Chicago Cubs

Sep 9, 1965

Koufax recorded his second career no-hitter, defeating the Cubs while walking only one batter, continuing his remarkable run of dominant performances.

Sets single-season strikeout record with 382

Oct 2, 1965

Koufax finished the 1965 season with 382 strikeouts, breaking Christy Mathewson's modern-era mark of 367. The record stood until Nolan Ryan broke it in 1973 and still stands as the National League record.

Image source: List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders

Sits out Game 1 of World Series for Yom Kippur

Oct 6, 1965

Koufax famously declined to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. His decision became an enduring symbol of faith and principle in American sports.

Wins third Cy Young Award

Nov 1, 1965

Following his 26-8 season with the strikeout record and perfect game, Koufax captured his second consecutive unanimous Cy Young Award, cementing his status as baseball's premier pitcher.

Image source: Cy Young Award

Holds out with Don Drysdale over contract dispute

Feb 1, 1966 - Apr 1, 1966

Koufax and Don Drysdale jointly held out for a three-year contract worth about $1 million combined, a landmark negotiation that highlighted players' growing leverage before free agency existed.

Image source: 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers season

Pitches final season despite arthritic elbow pain

Apr 1, 1966 - Oct 2, 1966

Playing through severe arthritis in his left elbow, Koufax went 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA in 1966, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts while relying heavily on painkilling medications like Butazolidin.

Postseason Heroics

Wins first World Series game with 15-strikeout performance

Oct 2, 1963

Koufax dominated the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series, striking out a record 15 batters in a complete-game victory as the Dodgers swept the series.

Image source: 1963 World Series

Wins Game 7 of 1965 World Series on two days' rest

Oct 14, 1965

Pitching on just two days of rest after throwing a shutout in Game 5, Koufax hurled a complete-game three-hitter in Game 7 against Minnesota to clinch the World Series title for the Dodgers.

Image source: 1965 World Series

Starts and loses decisive Game 2 of 1966 World Series

Oct 6, 1966

Koufax started Game 2 of the 1966 World Series against Baltimore, taking the loss in what proved to be the final start of his career as the Orioles swept the Dodgers in four games.

Image source: 1966 World Series

Retirement and Legacy

Publishes autobiography with John Underwood

Jan 1, 1966

Koufax co-wrote an autobiography, 'Koufax,' published shortly before his retirement, offering rare insight into his private nature and career, including candid discussion of his pitching philosophy and injuries.

Image source: Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy

Announces retirement at age 30

Nov 18, 1966

Citing the risk of permanent damage to his arthritic left arm, Koufax announced his retirement at a press conference at the age of 30, stunning the sports world at the peak of his powers.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Jan 20, 1972

In his first year of eligibility, Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest player ever inducted at age 36.

Image source: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Dodgers retire his number 32

Jun 4, 1972

The Los Angeles Dodgers retired Koufax's uniform number 32, honoring him alongside Jackie Robinson (42) as one of the franchise's immortals.

Serves as special advisor and spring training instructor

Feb 1, 1979

Koufax rejoined the Dodgers organization as a special consultant and spring training guest instructor, mentoring young pitchers for decades while maintaining his famously low public profile.

Inducted into the inaugural Jewish Sports Hall of Fame class

May 20, 1979

Koufax was among the inaugural honorees of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing him as arguably the greatest Jewish athlete in American sports history.

Image source: International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Subject of acclaimed biography A Lefty's Legacy

Jan 22, 2002

Jane Leavy published 'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy,' a widely praised biography exploring his career, Jewish identity, and the mystery surrounding his intensely private life.

Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Nov 22, 2016

President Barack Obama awarded Koufax the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, citing both his athletic brilliance and the dignity of his Yom Kippur stand in 1965.

Image source: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Key Facts

Sandy Koufax pitched four no-hitters between 1962 and 1965, including a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965 — one of the greatest pitching performances in MLB history.
He won the National League Cy Young Award three times (1963, 1965, and 1966) when only one award was given for all of Major League Baseball.
Koufax famously sat out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, becoming an enduring symbol of religious conviction in sports.
In 1966, he retired at age 30 due to traumatic arthritis in his left elbow, finishing with a 165-87 record, 2,396 strikeouts, and a 2.76 career ERA.
Koufax became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1972 at age 36.

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