Sanford Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 30, 1935. He attended the University of Cincinnati -- on a basketball scholarship -- before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.

A left-hander, Koufax enjoyed a five-year stretch as perhaps the most dominating pitcher in the history of baseball. He had three 25-win seasons, captured five straight ERA titles, and set a new standard with 382 strikeouts in 1965. His fastball and curve enabled him to pitch no-hitters in four consecutive seasons, culminating with a perfect game in 1965. He also posted a 0.95 ERA in four career World Series (1959, 1963, 1965, and 1966), leading the Dodgers to three championships. He retired from baseball at the end of the 1966 season because of arthritis in his pitching arm.

Awards and Honors

member of six consecutive All-Star teams, 1961-1966
National League MVP, 1963
National League Cy Young Award, 1963, 1965, 1966
World Series MVP, 1963, 1965
induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, 1972

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