Good day all.
Today's
blog post has my Sandy Koufax special insert that was part of my "1960s
Career-Cappers" set released a few years ago, one of the more popular
custom sets I've created over the years:
Koufax
was unstoppable yet again in 1966, posting an incredible 27-9
record along with a 1.72 earned run average and 317 strikeouts in 41
starts, along with five shutouts and 27 complete games, before shocking
the world with his premature retirement because of arm problems.
Along with an easy Cy Young Award, giving him an unprecedented third such claim to baseball’s top pitching prize, he finished second to the Pirates’ Roberto Clemente for league MVP.
It was the fifth season in a row that Koufax overpowered National League batters, leading the league in ERA each and every time, along with THREE 25+ win & 300+ strikeout campaigns.
But sadly and shockingly, Koufax would have to retire at the top of his game because of the aforementioned recurring arm problems that could have left him without the use of his left arm the rest of his life.
Rather than suffer long-term injury, Koufax left the game and many of us to wonder so many “what-if’s” had he been able to continue on into the 1970’s.
Easily
the youngest player in this set who retired during the decade of the
1960s, he still produced enough legendary moments in his career to leave
a lasting legacy as one of the great pitchers in the sport's history.
Along with an easy Cy Young Award, giving him an unprecedented third such claim to baseball’s top pitching prize, he finished second to the Pirates’ Roberto Clemente for league MVP.
It was the fifth season in a row that Koufax overpowered National League batters, leading the league in ERA each and every time, along with THREE 25+ win & 300+ strikeout campaigns.
But sadly and shockingly, Koufax would have to retire at the top of his game because of the aforementioned recurring arm problems that could have left him without the use of his left arm the rest of his life.
Rather than suffer long-term injury, Koufax left the game and many of us to wonder so many “what-if’s” had he been able to continue on into the 1970’s.
