Sandy Koufax pitched his last game 60 years ago, yet his name still stops baseball fans in their tracks. For six seasons in the 1960s the Dodgers left-hander was as close to unhittable as the game has ever seen.
Now 90, Koufax remains one of the sport's most revered figures. Here is the story of the Left Arm of God, and you can shop every design in our Sandy Koufax collection.
Sandy Koufax Fact File
| Full name | Sanford Koufax (born Sanford Braun) |
| Date of birth | 30 December 1935 (age 90) |
| Place of birth | Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Position | Pitcher (left-handed) |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Retired (1966); Hall of Famer |
| Shirt number | 32 |
| Nickname | The Left Arm of God |
Career History
| Years | Team | W–L | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–1957 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 9–10 | 182 |
| 1958–1960 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 27–30 | 501 |
| 1961–1966 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 129–47 | 1,713 |
| Career | Dodgers total | 165–87 | 2,396 |
Regular-season figures. Koufax finished with a career ERA of 2.76; his final five seasons each produced an ERA under 2.60.
Brooklyn Beginnings
Koufax grew up in Brooklyn and joined his hometown Dodgers in 1955 as a raw, hard-throwing left-hander. His early years were a struggle for control, and he won just nine games across his first three seasons.
The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, and slowly the potential began to turn into something extraordinary.
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Six Seasons of Dominance
From 1961 Koufax was transformed. In 1963 he went 25–5 with a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts, winning the NL MVP, the Cy Young Award and the pitching Triple Crown.
He won the Triple Crown again in 1965 and 1966, and added Cy Young Awards in both years. His 382 strikeouts in 1965 remain one of the great seasons in baseball history.
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No-Hitters, a Perfect Game and Yom Kippur
Koufax threw four no-hitters, the last of them a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on 9 September 1965. He was World Series MVP in both 1963 and 1965.
In 1965 he famously sat out Game 1 of the World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, then pitched the Dodgers to the title, including a shutout in Game 7.
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Retirement at 30 and the Hall of Fame
On 18 November 1966, aged just 30, Koufax announced his retirement because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow. He had just gone 27–9 with a 1.73 ERA.
In 1972 he became the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame, and the Dodgers retired his number 32 the same year. A statue of him was unveiled at Dodger Stadium in June 2022.
Honours
Team
- World Series champion: 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965 (did not appear in the 1955 Series)
Individual
- NL MVP: 1963
- Cy Young Award: 1963, 1965, 1966
- World Series MVP: 1963, 1965
- Pitching Triple Crown: 1963, 1965, 1966
- 7× All-Star
- Four no-hitters, including a perfect game (1965)
Hall of Fame
- Baseball Hall of Fame: 1972 (youngest player elected)
- Number 32 retired by the Dodgers (1972)
- Statue at Dodger Stadium (2022)
Away From the Game
Koufax has always guarded his privacy, keeping a famously low profile in retirement. In 2022 the Dodgers honoured him with a statue at Dodger Stadium, and his decision to skip a World Series start for Yom Kippur still resonates far beyond baseball.
FAQs
How old is Sandy Koufax?
Sandy Koufax was born on 30 December 1935, so he is 90 years old.
Where was Sandy Koufax born?
He was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York.
How tall is Sandy Koufax?
Koufax is listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).
What teams did Sandy Koufax play for?
He played his whole career for the Dodgers, in Brooklyn (1955–1957) and Los Angeles (1958–1966).
How many no-hitters did Sandy Koufax throw?
Four, including a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on 9 September 1965.
Why did Sandy Koufax retire so young?
He retired at 30 in November 1966 because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow, which threatened the long-term use of his arm.
Shop the Sandy Koufax Collection
Celebrate the Left Arm of God with our made-to-order hoodies and T-shirts, printed in the UK.
Shop every design in our Sandy Koufax collection. Explore the full baseball collection or shop our Los Angeles Dodgers collection. Want your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Jackie Robinson Career Story and Nolan Ryan Career Story.
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