Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1963
Photo Image: Life Magazine cover, August 2, 1963
Photo Subject: Portrait of Sandy Koufax that was the cover photo for Life Magazine for the August 2, 1963 issue.
Fun Fact: Sandy Koufax’s twelve-year career with the Dodgers is a tale of what could have been for two separate pitchers. The first six years (1955 through 1960) were of a young pitcher with control problems who tried to overpower batters with his lightning-bolt fastball. During the 1961 Spring Training, reserve catcher Norm Sherry suggested he focus more on control and throw more curveballs. By heeding this advice Koufax transformed from a thrower to a pitcher known as “the Left Arm of God”.
From 1961 through 1966, he pitched four no-hitters, one of them a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs. His main weapons were a “rising” fastball (which in theory, defies the laws of physics) and a 12 / 6 curve (which started at 12 o’clock and dropped like a rock to 6 o’clock). According to Willie Stargell, “Getting a hit off Koufax is like trying to eat soup with a fork.”
After the 1963 World Series, Yogi Berra was quoted by saying, "I can understand how he won 25. What I can't understand is how he lost five.
Dodger shortstop Maury Wills replied to Yogi’s comment, "He didn't. We lost them for him."
Painting Detail: Printed on 8½” x 11” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: Sandy Koufax, SABR.org. Sandy Koufax Quotes, Baseball-Almanac.org