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The Brooklyn Dodgers signed Sandy Koufax out of the University of Cincinnati in December of 1954. By rules of the day, any player given a bonus of at least $4,000 went straight to the big league roster. Just 19 years old, Bonus Baby Koufax debuted for Brooklyn in 1955.

The rule was designed to thwart bidding wars and to keep wealthy teams from signing the best players and stashing them in the minor leagues. Originated in 1947, the rule persisted in some for until 1965.

According to Baseball Almanac Sandy was one of 65 players whose signing money deemed them Bonus Babies. In addition to the Dodger left-hander, four other Cooperstown men had the distinction – Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Catfish Hunter.

Shown here is an autographed photo of a young Koufax in a Brooklyn uniform.

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Sandy Koufax is remembered as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers. The reputation is well-earned. An All Star in each of his final six big league seasons, the lefty won 18 games in ’61 before leading the NL in ERA each year from ’62-’66.

Over his last five campaigns, Sandy went 111-34 with a 1.95 ERA. During that time he authored four no hitters, earned three Cy Young Awards, and an MVP nod. Koufax also became the first two-time World Series Most Valuable Player.

His first six seasons provide great contrast to his later-career mastery. Unable to harness his blazing fastball, Koufax was rather pedestrian from the time he broke in during the 1955 season through 1960.

In those seasons, three in Brooklyn and three in LA, Sandy lost more games than he won. He went 36-40 with a 4.10 earned run average. His ERA+ was exactly league-average at 100.

Sandy is shown here in a Brooklyn uniform in this autographed photo.

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For five seasons, Sandy Koufax was baseball’s most commanding starting pitcher. From 1962-1966 he averaged more than 35 starts and 21 victories. He also made eight relief appearances that resulted in four of his nine career saves.

One of those saves game on May 24, 1964. Twenty-one year old Joe Moeller got the start for the Dodgers and threw six scoreless innings against Jim Bunning and the Phillies. When manager Walt Alston removed Moeller, he called on Koufax for relief.

Sandy pitched three innings, allowing two hits and striking out one to earn the save. After the game Koufax shook the hand of young Moeller in the Dodger clubhouse. Shown here is a picture from that day signed by both men.

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Sandy Koufax dominated National League hitters in 1963 en route to the first of his three Cy Young Awards. He pitched the Dodgers to the pennant by earning the Triple Crown with league-leading numbers in wins (25), ERA (1.88) and strikeouts (306).

In the postseason Koufax continued his mastery. As the Fall Classic’s Game 1 starter at Yankee Stadium, he struck out five of the first six New York hitters. By the time he was finished, 15 Bronx batters went down on strikes. That eclipsed Carl Erskine’s World Series record set ten years to the day earlier.

Four days later Sandy finalized the Dodger sweep with a complete-game six-hitter to earn the World Series MVP.

Koufax’s reign as the most prolific October strikeout artist lasted until Bob Gibson whiffed 17 Tigers hitters in the opening game of the ’68 tilt. Shown here is a ticket to that contest signed by Gibson who adds the inscription, “17 Ks MLB WS record”.

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Joe Moeller took the hill on May 24, 1964 to square off against Jim Bunning and the Phillies, holders of the best record in the National League. The youngest Los Angeles Dodger starting pitcher at 19 just two years earlier, Moeller was outstanding.

Before 39,600 fans at Dodger Stadium, Moeller allowed only a second-inning single to Wes Covington and two walks through the first six innings. In the 7th Moeller wasn’t as sharp. The Dodger right-hander allowed back-to-back base hits to Johnny Callison and Covington to put men at second and third with no outs.

In a testament to how times have changed, manager Walt Alston summoned his ace Sandy Koufax out of the bullpen. Three days earlier the Hall of Fame hurler pitched a complete game. Koufax got the next three hitters and preserved the Dodger shutout. In all he pitched three innings and faced the minimum to earn the save in relief of young Moeller.

In the letter above Moeller writes, “It was great to have the greatest pitcher I ever saw relieve me and get the save. Both Bunning and Sandy are in the Hall of Fame, but I got the win that day.”

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Jeff Torborg caught Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game and served as his catcher for three seasons. He was pitcher Joe Moeller’s teammate for seven of Joe’s eight big league seasons. The catcher and Moeller were best of friends, close like brothers for the rest of their days.

Here Torborg provides his own recollections of the game in which Moeller and Koufax combined for a shutout. “John Roseboro caught the game. I was in my first big-league season and paying close attention to how he handled the two pitchers. Joe was 20 at the time. He started the game and pitched six strong innings before our skipper Walt Alston lifted him. Sandy came in to relieve him and pitched three innings to complete the shutout and get the save…”

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Joe Moeller was 21-years old when Sandy Koufax pitched the second of his four no-hitters. After the game, Koufax was interviewed at length about his gem and was the last to get on the bus. The no-hit hurler took a seat next to Moeller.

In this letter Moeller writes in vivid detail of Koufax’s disappointment in the game and calls Koufax, “one of the most intelligent, articulate, and humble players I ever met.

When Moeller broke in with the Dodgers in 1962, Koufax was one of the game’s best pitchers. During their shared time in Los Angeles, Koufax went 111-34 with a 1.95 ERA. The lefty-hander had the league’s lowest ERA each season from ’62 until he retired in ’66. Sandy earned three Cy Young Awards and an NL MVP.

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Dazzy Vance led the NL in strikeouts for seven straight years from 1922-1928. After that he continued to march all the way to the top spot on the Dodger franchise record book. Vance held the mark for the rest of his life.

Four years after Dazzy’s 1961 passing, Sandy Koufax became the Dodger strikeout king.

Before Vance found fame with Brooklyn he was a fringe prospect with the Yankees. The Hall of Fame hurler appeared in 10 games with New York, going 0-3 with a 4.45 earned run average.

His last two appearances for the Yanks came in 1918. On February 20, 1919 the Yankees transferred his contract to Double-A Sacramento.

In the collection is the document that made that transfer official. The signatures of Vance and Hall of Fame Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert are on it. Autographs from this early in Vance’s career are rarely seen.

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In 1965 the Dodgers won their third World Series in seven years. They did it despite a weak offense that featured pitcher Don Drysdale as their only .300 hitter. Instead the team relied on the pitching and defense.

Moundsmen Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale did their part. Big D had a fine year, going 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA, 208 strikeouts and 20 complete games. As good as he was, Koufax was even better.

The unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award, Koufax led the league in wins (27), ERA (2.04), strikeouts (382), innings (335 2/3), complete games (27), and WHIP (career best 0.855).

Los Angeles won 97 games to earn a trip to the Fall Classic. The Series didn’t start according to plan. Pennant-winning Minnesota beat the Dodger dynamic duo in the first two games of the Series.

After Claude Osteen shut out the Twins in Game 3, the Dodgers tied the series behind Drysdale’s complete game five-hitter. In Game 5 Koufax twirled a gem in a 10-strikeout four-hit shutout.

The Twins evened things up with a Game 6 win. Dodger skipper Walter Alston turned to Koufax in the Series finale. Pitching on just two days rest, Koufax dominated the Twins. The lefty again struck out ten, this time allowing just three hits. For his efforts he was named the Series MVP.

Shown here is a 9×11 sheet commemorating the 1965 World Champion Dodgers. It is autographed by both Dodger pitchers.

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Sandy Koufax was a dominant postseason pitcher. During his day there were no playoffs; it was the AL champion vs. the NL winner for all the marbles.

In 1959 Koufax had yet to find his greatness. His regular season numbers included a 8-6 record and a 4.05 ERA. Used in two games in that year’s Fall Classic, he was dominant. Sandy allowed just one run in 9 innings. He struck out 7 and issued one walk.

The next time Koufax and the Dodger performed on baseball’s biggest stage, he was even better. In the 1963 Dodger sweep of the Yankees, Koufax threw complete games in each of his two starts, striking out 23 New York batter and allowing three runs. By winning two of the four games, he was the easy choice for World Series MVP.

Two years later Koufax was at his best. In three starts – two complete-game shutouts – he pitched to a microscopic 0.38 ERA against the potent Twins. In the winner-take-all Game 7 the Dodgers gave the ball to their ace. On two days rest, Sandy authored a three-hit shutout to secure the title. His efforts resulted in his second World Series MVP nod.

Sandy’s final Fall Classic appearance came against the Orioles in 1966. In the final game of his career in Game 2, Sandy went 6 innings and allowed one earned run in the Dodger loss. Overall in World Series play Koufax made eight appearances. In 7 starts he hurled four complete games and two shutouts with a 0.95 earned run average.

In the collection is a 1961 Topps card featuring and signed by Dodger lefties Sandy Koufax and Johnny Podres. Koufax was one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the game, but at at the time the card was released, his career record stood at 36-40. Podres, the 1955 World Series MVP was a two time All Star with a career 81-66 mark. Few could have predicted the greatness ahead for the Left Arm of God.

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When Sandy Koufax earned his second World Series MVP award in 1965 he became the first player to claim the honor twice. His dominant postseason work makes him one of the game’s greatest big-game pitchers.

In 7 starts he hurled four complete games and two shutouts with a 0.95 earned run average. Despite doing everything he could to help his team win, Sandy’s postseason record stands at 4 wins and 3 losses.

One of the few twirlers who matches Sandy’s Fall Classic greatness is Cardinals great Bob Gibson.  In 9 career Fall Classic starts Gibby went 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA, 8 complete games, two shutouts, and 92 strikeouts in 81 innings. Like Koufax, Gibson earned two World Series MVP awards.

The first came in 1964 when he tossed 27 innings in three starts including the deciding Game 7 St. Louis victory. Three years later in 1967, Gibson won three games on baseball’s biggest stage, authoring three complete games and one shutout.

In 1968, Gibson’s Cardinals were vanquished by the Detroit Tigers. Despite the Series defeat, Gibson broke Koufax’s single-game World Series strikeout record. His 17 Ks in Game 1 of the 1968 tilt still stands as the most prolific single-game strikeout performance in Fall Classic history.

Shown here is the contract Gibson signed to play for St. Louis during that 1974 campaign. That year was a special one for Gibson and all of baseball. On July 17th the fireballing right-hander joined Walter Johnson as the second man in the game’s history to strikeout 3,000 batters.

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The Cy Young Award was originated in 1956 to recognize pitching excellence. Through 1966 it was given to the singular best twirler in the major leagues. Then in 1967, it was expanded to honor a pitcher in each league.

Through the award’s first 70 years 22 pitchers earned multiple nods. Half of them picked up the honor a third time.

Sandy Koufax is one of the 11 to capture the Cy at least three times. Baseball writers bestowed it to the ace in three of his final four big league seasons.  During the run he was an incredible 70 games above .500 with a 97-27 win/loss mark. Sandy led the NL in ERA each of the four campaigns.

Roger Clemens is the most-decorated recipient with 7 Cy Young plaques. Left-hander Randy Johnson is next with 5 nods. A pair of Cooperstown men, Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux won four each. Along with Koufax, Pedro Martinez, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Jim Palmer, and Tom Seaver, have three each.

In the collection is the official document from Major League Baseball signed by the only other Dodger to claim three Cy Young Awards. Clayton Kershaw signed the receipt to collect the first of his 8 All Star rings in 2011. That season was a magical one for the Dodger who earned pitching’s Triple Crown with 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, and 248 strikeouts. By season’s end he earned the first of his three Cy Young Awards.

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Sandy Koufax may have been a three-time Cy Young Award winner and an MVP, but he was no match for Henry Aaron. Aaron’s career numbers against Koufax show dominance. In 116 at-bats, Aaron hit .362 with a 1.077 OPS. He blasted 7 home runs, 3 triples, 6 doubles, with 16 runs batted in. Koufax walked Aaron 14 times and struck him out 12, showing the delicate balance between respect and frustration.

Koufax was never shy about the challenge Aaron presented. In his 1966 book Koufax, he recalled one particularly telling moment: “There were now men on first and second. The batter was Henry Aaron. I walked him on four straight balls, which was probably the smartest thing I did all year. There have been many times since when I wished I had been wild enough to walk Henry Aaron. I’m usually backing up third as I am wishing it.”

Despite Koufax’s dominance on the mound, Aaron seemed to have his number. Koufax’s words underscore how Aaron’s presence at the plate left even the best pitchers, like him, questioning their approach.

Shown here is a telegram from the day after Aaron passed the Bambino to become baseball’s career home run leader. Dated April 9, 1974, it reads, “Congratulations on number 715”. Aaron has signed the bottom right of the telegram.

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The final game of Sandy Koufax’s big league career came on baseball’s biggest stage. The first two-time World Series MVP, Koufax took the loss to 20-year-old Jim Palmer in Game 2 of the 1966 Fall Classic.

Koufax pitched well, scattering six hits over six inning. The Dodger defense let him down with six errors. Three of the four runs Koufax surrendered were unearned.

His Baltimore pitching counterpart was masterful. Twenty-year-old Jim Palmer stifled the Los Angeles offense, with a four-hit performance. The precocious right-hander became the youngest to throw a complete-game shutout in World Series play.

Shown here is a pair of Topps baseball cards that commemorate the game. In the top one Palmer adds the inscription, “6-0 shutout. Youngest to throw shutout”. On the bottom card, Palmer writes, “Sandy Koufax’ last game”.

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On June 22, 1968 Don Drysdale scattered scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to down Mets and gain his 199th win. In the contest he struck out 7 New York batters to break Sandy Koufax’s franchise record for career strikeouts.

Sandy ended his Dodger career with 2,396 Ks. At the end of the June night in ’68 at Shea Stadium, Double D pushed the record to 2,400. Drysdale made 26 more starts in ’68 and ’69 before ending his career with 2,486 strikeouts in his 14-year career.

Interestingly, the man who ended up taking the record from Drysdale earned the save that night. Don Sutton was a 23-year-old Dodger pitcher in his third year in the bigs. Sutton pitched for LA in 16 of his 23 years in the bigs and ended his Dodger career with 2,696 strikeouts.

In the collection is this ornate check drawn from the Los Angeles Dodgers account. Dated November 13, 1958 their first year since moving from Brooklyn the check is made out to Drysdale and signed by longtime team executive Fresco Thompson.

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Sandy Koufax left the field of play after the 1966 World Series. The next time he returned to the diamond in an official capacity was in 1979 as special pitching coach for the Dodgers.

Donning a uniform each spring training, Koufax worked with prospects and big leaguers alike. Wanting to keep a low profile, he insisted his Dodger jacket he wore on the field had no name on the back.

Sandy also enjoyed working with the younger players and sharing his baseball knowledge. Fans who watched spring workouts were often rewarded with seeing the great Koufax throw batting practice. He left his official position in 1979 though continued to pitching batting practice in spring training.

Shown here is a signed photo of a 51-year-old Koufax pitching from the mound in March of 1987 at the Dodgers Vero Beach spring training complex.