Editing Sandy Koufax (section)

===Domination (1961–1964)===
Koufax came to regret his decision to quit, having found working in the offseason boring. He decided to give baseball another try, remarking years later, "I decided I was really going to find out how good I can be."<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 101.</ref> During the offseason, Koufax underwent [[tonsillectomy]] due to recurring throat issues and, as a result, reported to spring training thirty pounds under his normal playing weight. He later stated that it forced him to regain the lost muscle mass and weight through exercise and nutrition, allowing him to get into the "best shape" of his life. From then on, he made it a point to report to spring training under his playing weight.<ref name="theatlantic"/><ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 147–148.</ref>

During spring training, Dodger scout Kenny Myers discovered a hitch in Koufax's windup, where he would rear back so far he would lose sight of the target.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 102.</ref> As a result, Koufax tightened up his mechanics, believing that not only would it help better his control but would also help him disguise his pitches better.{{efn|Throughout his career, Koufax fought a tendency to "tip" pitches which he never fully overcame; it was well known in the league when he would throw a fastball or a curve. Despite that, players such as [[Willie Mays]] and [[Joey Amalfitano]] believed that it made little difference as hitters "still couldn't hit him" due to the effectiveness of his pitches.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 24.</ref>}}<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], p. 153.</ref> Additionally, Dodgers [[statistician]] [[Allan Roth]] helped Koufax tweak his game in the early 1960s, particularly regarding the importance of first-pitch strikes and the benefits of breaking pitches.<ref name="theatlantic">{{cite magazine|title=The Incomparable Career of Sandy Koufax|last1=Orfalea |first1=Gregory |magazine=[[The Atlantic]]|date=October 6, 2016|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/sandy-koufax/503036/ |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 148–152.</ref>

[[File:Norm Sherry and Sandy Koufax.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Koufax with teammate [[Norm Sherry]] who played a pivotal role in Koufax's career|alt="Two baseball players facing each other and in conversation."]]

On March 23, Koufax was chosen to pitch in a B-squad game against the [[Minnesota Twins]] in [[Orlando, Florida]], by teammate [[Gil Hodges]] who was acting manager for the day. As teammate [[Ed Palmquist]] had missed the flight, leaving the team short one pitcher, Hodges told Koufax he needed to pitch at least seven innings. Prior to the game, catcher [[Norm Sherry]] told him: "If you get behind the hitters, don't try to throw so hard." This was due to Koufax's tendency to lose his temper and throw hard and wildly whenever he got into trouble.<ref name="theatlantic"/>

The strategy worked initially before Koufax temporarily reverted to throwing hard and walked the bases loaded with no out in the fifth. Sherry reminded Koufax of their discussion, advising him to settle down and throw to his glove; heeding the advice, Koufax struck out the side and finished the game with seven no-hit innings. He went on to have a strong spring training.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 153–155; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 102–103.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitmarsh |first1=Al |title=Koufax Credits Hitless Stint to Reliance on Fastball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-koufax-7-innings-n/105127670/ |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=March 24, 1961}}</ref>

====1961 season====
All the improvements and changes made in the offseason and during spring training resulted in 1961 becoming Koufax's breakout season. He posted an 18–13 record and led the majors with 269 strikeouts, breaking [[Christy Mathewson]]'s 58-year-old NL mark of 267, and doing so in 110 innings fewer than Mathewson had.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 157–159; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 115–116.</ref>

That season also marked the first time in his career that Koufax started at least 30 games (35) and pitched at least 200 innings (255.2). He lowered his [[Bases on  balls per nine innings pitched|walks allowed per nine innings]] from 5.1 in 1960 to 3.4 in 1961, led the NL with a [[strikeout-to-walk ratio]] of 2.80, and led the majors with a [[fielding independent pitching]] mark (FIP) of 3.00.<ref name="bbref-skoufax"/>

On September 20, in the last regular season baseball game at the Coliseum, Koufax won a 13-inning contest against the [[Chicago Cubs]] for his 18th win of the year. He pitched a complete game, throwing 205 pitches, striking out fifteen batters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: September 20, 1961 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196109200.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

====1962 season====
In 1962, the Dodgers moved from the Los Angeles Coliseum – a [[American football|football]] stadium which had a {{convert|250|ft|adj=on|round=5}} left-field line and a {{convert|40|ft|adj=on|round=5}} tall screen – to [[Dodger Stadium]]. The new park was pitcher-friendly, with a large foul territory and a relatively poor hitting background. Koufax, whose numbers were hurt by the peculiar dimensions of the Coliseum, was an immediate beneficiary of the move.{{efn|Between 1958 and 1961, while the Dodgers were at the Coliseum, Koufax's home record was 17–23, with a 4.33 ERA and 56 home runs allowed while his road record was 28–20 with a 3.57 ERA and 33 home runs allowed.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Home Like No Other: The Dodgers in L.A. Memorial Coliseum |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/a-home-like-no-other-the-dodgers-in-l-a-memorial-coliseum/ |website=Society for American Baseball Research |quote=Among Dodgers pitchers, no one was hampered by the Coliseum more than Sandy Koufax—despite some great individual games there. From 1958 through 1961 Koufax was 28–20 with a 3.57 ERA and 33 home runs allowed in Dodger road games; in the Coliseum, he was 17–23, 4.33 with 56 home runs allowed.}}</ref>}}<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 127–128; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 116.</ref> Subsequently, he recorded what would be his first great season, leading the NL in ERA and the majors in [[hits per nine innings]], [[strikeouts per nine innings]], and FIP.<ref name="bbref-skoufax"/>

[[File:Portrait of the baseball player Sandy Koufax ca1950 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Koufax at [[Dodger Stadium]], {{circa|1962}} |alt="A man in the Los Angeles Dodgers home uniform and cap with a glove, posing in fielding position."]]

On April 24, Koufax tied his own record of 18 strikeouts in a 10–2 win over the [[1962 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] in [[Wrigley Field]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN196204240.shtml |title=Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Box Score: April 24, 1962 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> On June 13, against the Braves at [[Milwaukee County Stadium]], he hit his first career [[home run]] off future Hall of Famer [[Warren Spahn]], providing the winning margin in a 2–1 victory.<ref>[[#Leavy|Leavy]], p. 116.</ref>

On June 30, Koufax threw his first career [[no-hitter]] against the expansion [[1962 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]; it was also the first Dodgers no-hitter since their move to Los Angeles. In the first inning, he threw an [[immaculate inning]], becoming the sixth NL pitcher and the 11th overall to throw one; he remains the only one to do so in a no-hitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-30-1962-sandy-koufax-hurls-first-career-no-hitter-against-mets/ |last1=Aaron |first1=Marc |title=June 30, 1962: Sandy Koufax hurls first career no-hitter against Mets |work=Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref><ref name="9pitch9strike">{{cite web |title=Immaculate Innings |website=Baseball Almanac |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml }}</ref> His no-hitter, along with a 4–2 record, 73 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA, earned him the [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|Player of the Month Award]] for June. It was the only time in his career he earned this distinction.<ref>{{cite web|title=Major League Baseball Players of the Month |website=Baseball-Reference.com |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-month.shtml}}</ref>

Throughout the first half of the season, Koufax dealt with an injured pitching hand.<ref name=look-koufax/> In April, while at bat, he had been jammed by a pitch. A numbness soon developed in his left index finger and it slowly turned cold and pale. Due to his strong performance, Koufax ignored the condition, hoping it would clear up in due time. The condition worsened, however, with his whole hand turning numb by July. During a start against Cincinnati, his finger split open.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finch |first1=Frank |title=Koufax to Return for Treatment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-koufax-treatment/116614830/ |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 18, 1962}}</ref> A vascular specialist determined that Koufax had a crushed artery in his palm. Ten days of experimental medicine successfully reopened the artery, preventing the possibility of [[amputation]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Creamer |first1=Robert |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/03/04/an-urgent-matter-of-one-index-finger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513192352/https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/03/04/an-urgent-matter-of-one-index-finger|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2021|title=An Urgent Matter of One Index Finger |date=March 4, 1963}}</ref>

Koufax was finally able to pitch again in September, when the team was locked in a tight pennant race with the Giants.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 165–176; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 120–121.</ref> However, after the long layoff, he was rusty and ineffective in three appearances and, by the end of the regular season and in part due to Koufax's absence from the Dodgers rotation, the Giants caught up with the Dodgers and forced a [[1962 National League tie-breaker series|three-game playoff]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Plaut |first1=David |title=Chasing October: The Giants-Dodgers Pennant Race of 1962 |url=https://archive.org/details/chasingoctoberdo00plau |year=1994 |pages=84–87 |publisher=Diamond Communications|isbn=978-0912083698 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

With an overworked pitching staff, manager Alston asked Koufax if he could start the first game. Koufax obliged but, still being rusty, was knocked out in the second inning, after giving up home runs to [[Willie Mays]] and [[Jim Davenport]]. After winning the second game of the series, the Dodgers blew a 4–2 lead in the ninth inning of the deciding third game, losing the pennant.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 176–177; [[#Leahy|Leahy]], pp. 54–59.</ref>

====1963 season====
In 1963, Major League Baseball expanded the [[strike zone]] to combat what they perceived as too much offense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/strike_zone_rules_history.shtml|title=The Strike Zone: A History of Official Strike Zone Rules|website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref> Compared to the previous season, walks in the NL fell 13%, strikeouts increased 6%, the league [[batting average]] fell from .261 to .245, and runs scored declined 15%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major League Batting Year-by-Year Averages |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/bat.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Koufax, who had reduced his [[Bases on balls per nine innings pitched|walks allowed per nine innings]] to 3.4 in 1961 and 2.8 in 1962, reduced it further to 1.7 in 1963, which ranked fifth in the league.<ref name="bbref-skoufax"/>

On April 19, Koufax threw his second [[immaculate inning]], this time in a two-hit shutout win against the [[1963 Houston Colt .45s season|Houston Colt .45s]], becoming the first NL pitcher and the second pitcher ever (after [[Lefty Grove]]) to throw two immaculate innings.<ref name="9pitch9strike"/> However, on April 23, he left a game against the [[1963 Milwaukee Braves season|Braves]] after throwing seven scoreless innings due to injuring the [[Capsule of the glenohumeral joint|posterior capsule]] of his left shoulder. Koufax subsequently missed two weeks, returning on May 7 against the [[1963 St. Louis Cardinals season|Cardinals]].<ref name="SABR Koufax"/>

Koufax threw his second career no-hitter against the [[1963 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] on May 11, besting Giants ace [[Juan Marichal]]. He carried a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] into the eighth inning against the powerful Giants lineup which included future Hall of Famers [[Willie Mays]], [[Willie McCovey]], and [[Orlando Cepeda]]. The perfect game ended when he walked catcher [[Ed Bailey]] on a full count. Koufax closed out the game after walking pinch-hitter McCovey on four pitches with two out in the ninth.<ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 181–183; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 122–123.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Marc |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-11-1963-sandy-koufax-throws-second-no-hitter-to-beat-marichal-giants/ |title=May 11, 1963: Sandy Koufax throws second no-hitter to beat Marichal, Giants |work=Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref>

From July 3 to 16, Koufax pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings, pitching three shutouts to lower his [[earned run average]] to 1.65. On July 20, he hit the second and last home run of his career, coincidentally again in Milwaukee; he hit a three-run shot off Braves pitcher [[Denny Lemaster]] to propel the team to a 5–4 win; it was his only game with three [[run batted in|runs batted in]].<ref name="bbref-skoufax"/>

In 1963, Koufax won the first of three pitching [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crowns]], leading the majors in wins (25), strikeouts (306), and earned run average (1.88).<ref name="triplecrown">{{cite web |title=Triple Crown of Pitching|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/pitrip.shtml |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref> He threw 11 shutouts, eclipsing [[Carl Hubbell]]'s 30-year, post-1900 mark for a left-handed pitcher of 10 and setting a record that stands to this day. Only [[Bob Gibson]], with 13 shutouts in his iconic 1968 season (known as "the year of the pitcher"), has thrown more since.<ref>{{cite web|title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Shutouts|website=Baseball-Reference.com|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SHO_season.shtml}}</ref>

[[File:Roseboro and Koufax celebrate Yankees sweep.jpg|thumb|Koufax and catcher [[John Roseboro]] celebrate the Dodgers' victory over the Yankees in the [[1963 World Series]]|alt="Two baseball players jumping and hugging each other in celebration."]]

Koufax won the National League [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]],<ref name="mvp">{{cite web |title=MLB Most Valuable Player MVP Award Winners |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mvp.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> and was the first unanimous selection for the [[Cy Young Award]], winning at a time when only one was awarded for both leagues.{{efn|Separate Cy Young Awards for each league started being awarded in {{mlby|1967}}, the year after Koufax retired.}}<ref name="cyyoungaward">{{cite web |title=MLB Cy Young Award Winners |website=Baseball-Reference.com |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/cya.shtml}}</ref> He was also named the [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year]] for the first time, and was awarded the [[Hickok Belt]] as the athlete of the year.<ref name="hickokbelt">{{cite web |title=Hickok Belt winner: Sandy Koufax (1963 & 1965) |url=http://hickokbelt.com/winners/past-winners/winners/sandy-koufax/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918033832/http://hickokbelt.com/winners/past-winners/winners/sandy-koufax/ |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |website=[[Hickok Belt]]}}</ref>

Clinching the pennant on September 27, the Dodgers faced the heavily favored [[1963 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] in the [[1963 World Series]]. In Game 1, Koufax beat [[Whitey Ford]] 5–2. He struck out the first five batters and 15 overall, breaking [[Carl Erskine]]'s decade-old record of 14. The Dodgers won Games 2 and 3 behind the pitching of [[Johnny Podres]], [[Ron Perranoski]], and [[Don Drysdale]]. Koufax completed the Dodgers' series sweep in Game 4 with a 2–1 victory over Ford; the only run he allowed was a home run by [[Mickey Mantle]].<ref>[[#Schoor|Schoor]], pp. 280–284.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Paul |title=Dodgers Make Series History by Beating Yanks Four in Row |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/28892188/ |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 7, 1963}}</ref>

During the series, Koufax struck out 23 batters in 18 innings, a record for a four-game World Series, and had a 2–0 record with an earned run average of 1.50; for his performance, he was awarded the [[World Series Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World Series Pitching Records |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_ws6.shtml |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref><ref>[[#Koufax and Linn|Koufax and Linn]], pp. 184–216; [[#Leavy|Leavy]], pp. 132–143.</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Leggett |first1=William |title=Koo-Foo the Killer |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/10/14/koofoo-the-killer |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=October 14, 1963}}</ref>