Autographed 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Spring Training Roster Program
Brooklyn's only World Championship year
Sandy Koufax's first year with the Dodgers
Sandy Koufax's first year with the Dodgers
Signed by 50 Dodgers at the spring training camp in 1955, this is the only item I have ever seen that is signed by all 10 of the Dodger Hall-of-Famers from the 1955-1965 Championship era. It is unusual to see Lasorda (who only played in 4 games in 1955 and would make the Hall as a manager), Koufax (who joined the team in 1955), Drysdale (who wouldn't make the team until 1956), as well as Walter O'Malley, Walter Alston, and Vin Scully, on the same document as the core Brooklyn HOF players Robinson, Campanella, Snider, and Reese. Also note the rare "Junior" Gilliam autograph. It appears that someone named Walter Maasen, who also signed the program, was able to secure the autographs at spring training.
Signed postcard - postmarked April 14, 1955 - Sandy's second day in the Major Leagues
Fans would hand ballplayers pre-addressed and stamped postcards as they were leaving the ballparks after a game in the hopes that the ballplayer would sign the back and drop them off to be mailed. Hard to imagine this happening today.
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Koufax 1st Win Full Ticket- Rare Elsie the Borden Cow Ticket Promotion - August 27, 1955
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1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Schaefer 3-d wall hanging
1955 Signed Dodger yearbook - Brooklyn's only championship
Signed by the whole team, the inscription at the bottom reads: " To Irene from Happy Felton". Happy Felton presided over a local TV show "The Knot Hole Gang", featuring Brooklyn Dodger players teaching youngsters how to improve their baseball skills.
Signed Menu from 1956 Dodger Boosters' Club
A dinner celebrating Brooklyn's only championship in 1955
Signed Postcard with Ebbets Field pictured on front - August 15, 1956
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Sandy Koufax 1956-7 signed contract to play winter ball with Puerto Rico Caguas
Rather than tour Japan with the Brooklyn Dodgers during the off-season, where he probably wouldn't have received much opportunity to work on his pitching, Koufax signed to play for Caguas in Puerto Rico. This would turn out to be the only professional team he played for other than the Dodgers. Pitching there for 3 months, Koufax had mixed results, going 3 wins and 6 losses, with a 4.35 ERA, striking out 76 in 64 innings but walking 54 batters. He returned to the U.S. in December. Here is the contract he signed (in both Spanish and English), and a letter from the Caguas President informing the league that Ryne Duren, a pitcher for the Kansas City A’s, was being substituted on their roster for Sandy Koufax, who was leaving on an Eastern Airlines flight to return to the states. A new league rule prevented teams from importing more than 3 big-leaguers to a team at any one time, so Koufax was being replaced by Duren.
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Army Reserves - 1957 Meal Card
After the end of the 1957 season and before spring training in 1958, Rather than being able to play again in winter ball and work on his pitching, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale served in the Army Reserves at Fort Dix, NJ. This was Sandy's identification card. The back is signed with the rarely seen "Sanford" Koufax. Koufax reportedly gave this to a fellow soldier serving with him.
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Vintage Autographed 1958 Topps Card
1959 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers Program- signed by entire team
Signed postcard - postmarked August 12, 1959
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THE TIDE BEGINS TO TURN
From 1955 through 1960, he won 36 and lost 40, with 405 walks in 691 2/3 innings. His ERA over this period was 4.10. But Koufax burst into prominence in 1961, winning 18 games and leading the National League with 269 strikeouts. Below are 3 of his game used items from the 1961-1966 period.
1961 Game-used Dodgers Home flannel (all-original) signed on the tail by Sandy Koufax
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Early 1960's Batting Helmet
1965 Game-Used Glove
This XPG-6 Rawlings glove features a special prototype x-laced web that was never offered on a retail model XPG-6 glove. An additional feature of this glove is that although this was a Mickey Mantle signature model glove, the "Mickey Mantle" stamped signature was never applied to the palm of the glove, a practice sometimes followed by Rawlings on gloves made for professional players. Below are 4 photos from 1965 showing Koufax with the glove, a couple of which show that the glove is not yet marked with the #32 on the Rawlings patch.
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1st No-hitter, vs New York Met
On June 30, 1962, Sandy Koufax struck out 13 batters and walked five to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to victory over the New York Mets 5-0 with his first career no-hitter. In the first inning, Koufax struck out 3 batters on nine pitches (officially referred to as an immaculate inning), and still holds the major league record for immaculate innings, having done so 3 times.
On June 30, 1962, Sandy Koufax struck out 13 batters and walked five to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to victory over the New York Mets 5-0 with his first career no-hitter. In the first inning, Koufax struck out 3 batters on nine pitches (officially referred to as an immaculate inning), and still holds the major league record for immaculate innings, having done so 3 times.
4/29/63 Koufax/Drysdale dual signed baseball
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Original Karl Hubenthal drawing of Sandy Koufax - Index finger injury
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An injury to his index finger sidelines Koufax for a portion of the 1962 season, and the Dodgers end up tied with the Giants for the League title. It doesn't go well in the play-offs for the Dodgers.
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2nd No-hitter, vs San Francisco Giants
Sandy Koufax tossed the second of his franchise-record four no-hitters on May 11, 1963 against the San Francisco Giants. Koufax was perfect into the eighth inning and issued only two walks in the contest. The left-hander struck out four as the Dodgers won 8-0, buoyed by big days at the plate from Ron Fairly (3-for-5 with three RBIs), Wally Moon (2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs) and John Roseboro (2-for-4 with two RBIs).
Sandy Koufax tossed the second of his franchise-record four no-hitters on May 11, 1963 against the San Francisco Giants. Koufax was perfect into the eighth inning and issued only two walks in the contest. The left-hander struck out four as the Dodgers won 8-0, buoyed by big days at the plate from Ron Fairly (3-for-5 with three RBIs), Wally Moon (2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs) and John Roseboro (2-for-4 with two RBIs).
1963 World Series - Dodgers Sweep the Yankees in four games
Original Line-up Cards
Game 1 in NY
Koufax vs Ford
Original line-up cards for Game 1 of the 1963 World Series between the LA Dodgers and NY Yankees, Whitey Ford versus Sandy Koufax. The Dodgers won the first game 5-2, with Koufax setting a then World Series record by striking out 15 batters. The line-up cards are signed by each teams’ respective managers, Walter Alston and Ralph Houk. Umpires were given the original top copy, with each manager providing a signed carbon copy to the opposing team.
The game 1 line-up cards were obtained from the family of Joe Paparella, the home plate umpire for the game.
The game 1 line-up cards were obtained from the family of Joe Paparella, the home plate umpire for the game.
Game 4 in LA
Ford vs Koufax
Original line-up cards for Game 4 of the 1963 World Series between the LA Dodgers and NY Yankees, Whitey Ford pitching against Sandy Koufax. In game 4, Koufax struck out 8 batters, and while the Dodgers got only 2 hits, it was enough to win 2-1 and complete a 4 game sweep of the Yankees. The line-up cards are signed by each teams’ respective managers, Walter Alston and Ralph Houk. Umpires were given the original top copy, with each manager providing a signed carbon copy to the opposing team.
The game 4 line-up cards marked Final Game 63, (carbons with original ink signatures by both managers), were obtained from the estate of Walter Alston.
The game 4 line-up cards marked Final Game 63, (carbons with original ink signatures by both managers), were obtained from the estate of Walter Alston.
DODGERS SWEEP NY
1963 World Series Game-Used Baseball from final game
Sandy Koufax named MVP
In the first game of the 1963 World Series, a 5-2 complete game victory, Koufax struck out 15, a World Series record,
and struck out 8 more in game four, a 2-1 complete game victory, as the Dodgers swept the Yankees. This game-used baseball from the final game is signed by the three starting pitchers and Walter Alston, Manager.
and struck out 8 more in game four, a 2-1 complete game victory, as the Dodgers swept the Yankees. This game-used baseball from the final game is signed by the three starting pitchers and Walter Alston, Manager.
Promotions grow as Koufax wins accolades
1963 Unopened Jello Box
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1962 Post Cereal back panel with Koufax 1963 Post Cereal back panel with Koufax
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1964 Sandy Koufax Union Oil Banner
These large (36" x 80") canvas-like banners were displayed on poles outside Union 76 Oil gas stations in the Los Angeles area during 1964 to promote a Dodgers portrait giveaway program. Portraits of various Dodgers measuring 8 1/2" x 11" were painted in pastels by the famed artist Nicholas Anthony Volpe, then reprinted and distributed as promotions when a customer purchased at least eight gallons of gasoline. Each reprint distributed at the gas station shows a player in both uniform and formal attire, with biographical information and career stats (including their World Champion 1963 season) on the back. This particular banner features one of the greatest left handed pitchers in baseball history, Sandy Koufax. Most of these large promotion banners were discarded by the gas stations when the promotion ended, making these tremendous display pieces exceedingly rare.
1963 Strike-out with Sandy Koufax game
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Early 1960'S All-Star Players Watch featuring Koufax, Mantle, Mays, and Maris, with original box
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Tropicana Motel Postcards
The Tropicana Motel in West Hollywood had a brush with celebrity even before it became a hangout for rock stars in the late ’60s and ’70s. Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax bought the inn—which was built in the 1940s and located at 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard—in 1962. He was the motel’s fourth owner. Pictured below are 2 of the postcards and matchbooks manufactured to advertise the motel during Koufax's ownership.
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3rd No-hitter, vs Philadelphia Phillies
Sandy Koufax becomes the 4th pitcher to hurl 3 no-hitters by blanking the NL-leading Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 at Connie Mack Stadium. Koufax strikes out 12 and walks one. It's Sandy's 3rd consecutive year throwing at least one no-hitter. The biggest threat against Koufax was Allen’s infield chopper in the seventh inning, which was charged and fielded by third baseman Jim Gilliam, who threw Allen out by three steps.
George Sosnak painted baseball - Commemorating 3rd Sandy Koufax No-hitter
George Sosnak spent decades as a minor league umpire, and was a self-taught artist. While waiting to work a minor league game in Idaho in 1956, he was asked by a fan if he could paint her favorite player on a baseball. The amateur painter said yes and gave her the baseball as a gift. He went on to paint, and give away, hundreds more. He started roughly 3,000 baseballs, and completed an estimated 800. The subjects of his work went well past baseball players to include civic leaders, politicians, and many others, the demand for his work came from all areas. He was sometimes paid for the work. However, he would often finish a baseball and simply present it as a gift.
Signed postcard - postmarked July 19, 1965
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Sandy Koufax Perfect Game vs Chicago Cubs
Dugout Line-up Card used by Chicago September 9, 1965
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One of my favorite items in my collection is the dugout line-up card used by the Chicago Cubs on Sept 9, 1965, the evening that Sandy Koufax pitched his 4th no-hitter, his perfect game, and still the only perfect game thrown by a Dodger at Dodger Stadium. Whenever I look at the card, I imagine the Cubs' manager examining the card, reviewing his player options as the game progressed, and wondering “who can I put in that can get a hit off this guy?” There were a number of interesting things about the perfect game:
The Cubs, on a road-trip, came into town from Houston for an unusual 1-game scheduled series against the Dodgers. What made this unusual was that this game wasn’t a make-up game for a rain-out, but was part of the original 1965 baseball schedule.
This line-up card was obtained from a stadium usher who was working at the game. |
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Full Ticket to the Perfect Game - someone missed a great game
Associated Press sports bulletins for Koufax perfect game
sent to various news organizations (before there was an internet)
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1965 World Series - Game 7 Original Line-up Cards
Dodgers vs Minnesota
Koufax vs Kaat
Original line-up cards for Game 7 of the 1965 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the LA Dodgers. In this game Jim Kaat pitched against Sandy Koufax. Koufax had declined to pitch in game 1 of the World Series that year because it fell on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, and therefore started games 2, 5 and on only 2 days rest, this game 7. He proceeded to pitch a three hit shut-out (his second consecutive shut-out), striking out 10 as the Dodgers won the series 4 games to 3.
These line-up cards were obtained by Alan Rosen (“Mr. Mint”) from the Minnesota Twins bat boy from that time
These line-up cards were obtained by Alan Rosen (“Mr. Mint”) from the Minnesota Twins bat boy from that time
Dec. 1966 signed contract between Sandy Koufax and NBC
Upon his retirement at the conclusion of the 1966 baseball season, Sandy Koufax signed a contract with NBC which resulted in him providing color commentary for the NBC Game of the Week (paired with Pee Wee Reese among others), and for "the Sandy Koufax Show". Below are the first and last pages of the 15 page contract, a wirephoto showing Sandy preparing to sign this very contract, and an article from the December 30, 1966 Chicago Tribune where Sandy discusses his new contract
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Motel Registration Card
Signed on Sandy's Induction Day into the Baseball Hall of Fame Aug. 7, 1972
After being inducted into the Baseball HOF in Cooperstown NY earlier in the day on August 7, 1972, Sandy and his wife stopped at this motor inn on his drive back to his home in Maine, making this a rare documented induction day signature.
And A Little Koufax Humor
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