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[Eli's Gone]

didn't remember Sandy Koufax had such a rough start to his career until I read this article...1st six years he was 36-40 and almost hung 'em up...next six years he was 129-47...

#5 Sandy Koufax (1935-present): Sanford Braun Koufax began and ended his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1955-1966. In June of 1955 he began his career, but only had one start after that until August where he recorded his first victory a 7-0 shutout against the
Cincinnati Reds. He only one one more game that season which was also a shutout even though the Dodgers won the pennant in 1955, Koufax never pitched during the World Series. It wasn't until 1957 that Koufax had one chance to keep his roster spot or be sent to the minors (he was paid a $4,000 signing bonus which hindered him going to the minors any earlier). He struck out 13 batters and pitched a complete game to beat the Chicago Cubs and solidify his position in the rotation. In his next 5 starts he led the league in strikeouts and e.r.a., but wasn't allowed to pitch for another 45 days and ended up being the last pitcher ever to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers. By the end of 1960 he wasn't getting much playing time and asked to be traded which never happened, but he decided to give it one more year before hanging it up. 1961 was brilliant and what everyone had been waiting for as Koufax led the league in strikeouts that year with 269 strikeouts and 18 wins. In 1962 he threw his first no-hitter, in 1963 he got his second no-hitter and won the Triple Crown, the Cy Young Award and the MVP Award. 1964 brought another no-hitter to his stats, and in 1965 suffering from severe arthritis Koufax won the Triple Crown again accompanied with a World Series Championship and the MVP Award also notching his first perfect game and 4th no-hitter to his career. Koufax had 165 career wins, a 2.76 era, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 40 shutouts to his credit. He never received a Cy Young award because it was not got given out until the year after he retired. He was elected into the Hall of Fame at the age of 36 becoming the youngest player ever to receive the glorified honor.