KOUFAX BECOMES YOUNGEST PLAYER ELECTED TO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
Cooperstown, New York (JFK+50) On January 19, 1972, former pitching great for the Los Angeles Dodgers Sandy Koufax* became the youngest player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Koufax, 36 years old, said...
"This is the biggest honor I've ever been given."
He had a rough going his first few years with the Dodgers first in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles. He was "inconsistent" and known for "wild pitches." Dodgers star Duke Snyder said he couldn't keep his warm-up pitches inside the batter's cage.
In 1961, however, he became a National League All-Star for the LA Dodgers with 269 strikeouts in that season.
Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn said,
"Either he throws the fastest ball I've ever seen, or I'm going blind."
The often quoted Yankee star Yogi Berra said in 1963,
"I can see how he won 25 games. I don't understand how he lost 5."
JFK+50 NOTE
While Sandy Koufax was certainly a great pitcher, he was not always perfect. Hank Aaron had 42 career hits off Koufax, the most of any one player who faced him.
Mickey Mantle hit a home run in Game 4 of the 1963 World Series off Koufax, but without doubt the most embarrassing imperfection was when baseball catcher/comedian Bob Uecker hit a home run off Sandy. Uecker would say later he thought that might keep Koufax from getting into the Hall of Fame.
SOURCES
"Sandy Koufax, Class of 1972," National Baseball Hall of Fame, www.baseballhall.org/
"Sandy Koufax," On This Day, www.onthisday.com/
