Editing Sandy Koufax (section)

===Early years (1955–1960)===
[[File:Cincinnati Redlegs at Brooklyn Dodgers 1955-08-27 (ticket).jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.65|A ticket from the August 27, 1955 game between the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] and the [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs]], where Koufax earned his first career win|alt="A ticket from an August 1955 game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field."]]

Having injured his ankle in the last week of spring training, Koufax was placed on the [[injured list|disabled list]] for 30 days; he would be activated by the Dodgers on June 8. To make room for him, they optioned their future Hall of Fame manager, [[Tommy Lasorda]], to their Triple-A affiliate, the [[Montreal Royals]]. Lasorda would later joke that it took "one of the greatest left-handers in history" to keep him off the Dodgers major league roster.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 63–64.</ref>

Koufax made his major league debut on June 24, 1955, against the [[1955 Milwaukee Braves season|Milwaukee Braves]], with the Dodgers trailing 7–1 in the fifth inning. [[Johnny Logan (baseball)|Johnny Logan]], the first batter Koufax faced, hit a bloop single. [[Eddie Mathews]] bunted back to the mound, and Koufax threw the ball into center field. He then walked [[Hank Aaron|Henry Aaron]] on four pitches to load the bases before striking out [[Bobby Thomson]] on a 3–2 fastball for his first career strikeout.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 95–97.</ref> Koufax ended up pitching two scoreless innings, inducing a [[double play]] to end the bases-loaded threat and picking up another strikeout in a perfect sixth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Dodgers vs Milwaukee Braves Box Score: June 24, 1955 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195506240.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Koufax's first start was on July 6, the second game of a [[doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[1955 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]]. He lasted only 4.2 innings, giving up eight walks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Koufax Recalls His Wild Start At Forbes Field |last1=Biederman |first1=Lester J. |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |date=May 16, 1966|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IL0bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7234%2C179287 |archive-date=September 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911173806/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IL0bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7234%2C179287 |page=18}}</ref> He did not start again for almost two months.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 74.</ref>

On August 27, Koufax threw a two-hit, 7–0 complete game shutout against the [[1955 Cincinnati Redlegs season|Cincinnati Redlegs]] for his first major league win. He struck out 14 batters and allowed only two hits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cincinnati Redlegs vs Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score: August 27, 1955 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195508270.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGowen |first1=Roscoe |title=Koufax, Dodgers, Tops Redlegs, 7–0|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/08/28/archives/dodgers-win-koufax-is-victor-dodger-allows-2-hits-fans-14-in.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 28, 1955 |via=TimesMachine |url-access=subscription}}</ref> His only other win in 1955 was also a shutout, a five-hitter against the Pirates on September 3.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Pirates vs Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score: September 3, 1955 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195509030.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In his rookie year, Koufax threw 41.2 innings in 12 appearances, striking out 30 batters and walking 28, with a record of 2–2 and 3.02 earned run average.<ref name="bbref-skoufax">{{cite web |title=Sandy Koufax Career Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koufasa01.shtml}}</ref> The [[1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season|Dodgers]] went on to win the National League pennant and the [[1955 World Series]] over the [[1955 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]], the first title in franchise history; however, even though he was on the World Series roster, Koufax did not appear in the series. During the fall, he had enrolled in the [[Columbia University School of General Studies]], which offered night classes in architecture; after the final out of Game 7, Koufax went straight to Columbia to attend class.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 3, 105–107; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. xx, 75–76.</ref>

[[File:Sandy Koufax by E.F. Collins.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|Koufax warming up at [[Wrigley Field]], {{circa|1957}}|alt="A young baseball player wearing a ballcap with the initial 'B'."]]

The 1956 season was not very different from 1955 for Koufax. Despite his blazing fastball, Koufax continued to struggle with control. He saw little work, pitching only 58.2 innings with a 4.91 earned run average, 29 walks and 30 strikeouts.<ref name="SABR Koufax"/> When Koufax allowed baserunners, he was rarely permitted to finish the inning. Teammate [[Joe Pignatano]] remarked, years later, that as soon as Koufax threw a couple of balls in a row, [[Walter Alston]] would signal for a replacement to start warming up in the bullpen.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 84–86.</ref>

Notably, teammates [[Jackie Robinson]] and [[Roy Campanella]] both clashed with Alston on Koufax's usage, noting the young pitcher's talent and objecting to him being benched for weeks at a time. Pitcher [[Don Newcombe]] stated years later that Koufax faced [[antisemitism]] as a young pitcher from white players on the team who shunned him and used antisemitic slurs when referring to him. This led to black teammates rallying to Koufax's defense and supporting him during his early years.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kashatus |first1=William C. |title=Jackie and Campy: The Untold Story of Their Rocky Relationship and the Breaking of Baseball's Color Line |date=2014 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0803246331 |url=https://archive.org/details/jackiecampyuntol0000kash/page/164/mode/2up |pages=164–165}}</ref>

To prepare him for the 1957 season, the [[1957 Brooklyn Dodgers season|Dodgers]] sent Koufax to [[Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente|Puerto Rico]] to play winter ball for the [[Criollos de Caguas (baseball)|Criollos de Caguas]].<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 117–199.</ref> For the Criollos, Koufax compiled a record of 3–6 with a 4.35 earned run average and 76 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beisbol101.com/jugador/sandy-koufax/ |title=Sandy Koufax stats in Puerto Rico |publisher=Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico |work=[[Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente|Beisbol 101]]}}</ref> Two of his wins were [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]], including a one-hitter and a two-hitter, with [[Roberto Clemente]] getting both hits against him in the latter, his last game in Puerto Rico before being released. Besides the Dodgers, the Criollos were the only other team Koufax pitched for in his career.<ref name="SABR Koufax"/>

On May 15, the restriction on sending Koufax down to the minors was lifted. Alston gave him a chance to justify his place on the major league roster by giving him the next day's start. Facing the [[1957 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] at [[Wrigley Field]], Koufax struck out 13 while pitching his first complete game in almost two years. For the first time in his career, he was in the [[starting rotation]], but only for two weeks. Despite winning three of his next five with a 2.90 earned run average, Koufax did not get another start for 45 days. In that start, he struck out 11 in seven innings, but got no decision. On September 29, he became the last man to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, throwing an inning of relief in the final game of the season.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 117–124; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 87–90.</ref>

[[File:Drydale_and_Koufax_on_active_duty_training.jpg|thumb|Koufax and teammate [[Don Drysdale]] changing parts on a military truck at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in [[Van Nuys, California]]|alt="Two men in military uniform at an Army base, ponder over instructions on how to change parts of a military truck."]]

Koufax, along with fellow Dodgers pitcher [[Don Drysdale]], served in the [[United States Army Reserve]] for two years, from 1957 to 1959. He was often stationed at [[Fort Dix, New Jersey]] during the offseason.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 107, 126, 140.; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 203.</ref>

Koufax began the 1958 season 7–3, but sprained his ankle in a collision with [[Jim Bolger (baseball)|Jim Bolger]] of the [[Chicago Cubs]] at first base on July 5, resulting in a long layoff. Throughout the season, he was also plagued with back pain which was the result of a benign tumor on his rib cage, necessitating him to undergo surgery in the offseason to have the growth removed.<ref name=look-koufax>{{cite magazine |last1=Koufax |first1=Sandy |last2=Gross |first2=Milton |title=I'm Only Human |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_look_1963-12-31_27_26_0/page/50/mode/2up |magazine=[[Look (American magazine)|Look]] |date=December 31, 1963 |url-access=registration}}</ref> As a result, he finished the season at 11–11 and leading the majors in [[wild pitch]]es.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 130–132.</ref>

In 1959, on June 22, he set the record for a night game with 16 strikeouts against the [[1959 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: June 22, 1959 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN195906220.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Down |first1=Fred |title=Koufax Whiffs 16 Phils, One Shy of NL Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-1959-06-23-mlb-notes/87591850/ |newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |date=June 23, 1959}}</ref> On August 31, against the [[1959 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]], he broke [[Dizzy Dean]]'s NL single-game record of 17 strikeouts and tied [[Bob Feller]]'s [[List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders|Major League record]] of 18.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 125–138; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 90–92.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN195908310.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: August 31, 1959 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Down |first1=Fred |title=Koufax Ties Strikeout Mark of 18 in L.A. win |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-1959-09-01-mlb-notes/87815074/ |newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |date=September 1, 1959}}</ref>

That season, the Dodgers won a tight pennant race against the Giants and the [[1959 Milwaukee Braves season|Milwaukee Braves]]. They faced the [[1959 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] in the [[1959 World Series|World Series]]. In his first World Series appearance, Koufax pitched two perfect relief innings in Game 1, though they came after the Dodgers were already behind 11–0. Alston gave Koufax the start in Game 5, at the [[Los Angeles Coliseum]]. In what would have been the series-clincher, Koufax allowed only one run in seven innings but lost the game 1–0 when [[Nellie Fox]] scored on a double play and the Dodgers failed to score a run in support. Returning to Chicago, the Dodgers won Game 6 and their first championship in Los Angeles.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 139–141.</ref><ref>[[#Schoor|Schoor]], pp. 262–265.</ref>

In early 1960, Koufax asked Dodgers general manager [[Buzzie Bavasi]] to trade him because he believed he was not getting enough playing time, a request that was denied. On May 23, he pitched a one-hit shutout against the [[1960 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pirates]], allowing only a second-inning single by pitcher [[Bennie Daniels]] and striking out 10 batters in the process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Dodgers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score: May 23, 1960 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT196005230.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> However, the game was a highlight in an otherwise bad year for Koufax in which he went 8–13 with a 3.97 earned run average.<ref name="bbref-skoufax"/>

After the last game of the season, frustrated with his lack of progress as well as resentment towards Dodger management, Koufax threw his equipment into the trash, having decided to quit baseball and devote himself to an [[electronics]] business in which he had invested.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Elysian Fields of Brooklyn: The Parade Ground |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-elysian-fields-of-brooklyn-the-parade-ground/ |website=Society for American Baseball Research |quote=The combination of resentment by veteran players, lack of minor league training, irregularity of work, and pressure he felt from the antisemitic faction contributed to discouragement felt by the young pitcher, and for a time he considered giving it all up.}}</ref> In his first six seasons, he had posted a record of 36–40 with a 4.10 earned run average. [[Nobe Kawano]], the clubhouse supervisor, retrieved the equipment in case Koufax decided to return the following year.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 142–147; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 93–95.</ref>