Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
Sandy Koufax was the embodiment of the phrase, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” He was dominating hitters one day, and the next, he announced his retirement at age 30. Arthritis robbed baseball fans of seeing him build on his numbers to the point that he might have reached 4,000 strikeouts before Nolan Ryan. Then again, he could have declined as well. Let’s appreciate these instances of Koufax at his prime forever.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus, we'll send you other unbelievable stories from baseball's past.
That Curveball That Defied Physics …
Koufax’s curveball didn’t just break—it fell off the table like a drunk uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. Hitters would start their swing at a strike and finish swinging at a ball that somehow ended up in the dirt, leaving them looking like they were trying to kill a snake with a Louisville Slugger.
Four No-Hitters in Four Years—When Perfection Became Routine
From 1962 to 1965, Koufax threw no-hitters like other pitchers threw batting practice. His perfect game against the Cubs in 1965 was so dominant that even the Chicago fans applauded—a feat roughly equivalent to getting Yankees fans to cheer for the Red Sox.
April 21, 1961: When He Truly Started Becoming KOUFAX
In 1960, he’d started showing signs of why the Dodgers had sent Tommy Lasorda to the minors to bring him up (true story). The lefty struck out 197 hitters that year and even had several double-digit strikeout games. But all the pieces came together in ’61. After an initial bumpy game versus the Pirates, he went the distance against the Reds, sending 11 Cincinnati hitters to the bench for his first win of the young season.
September 20, 1961: 15 Strikeouts in Extras Win Vs. Cubs
It was a different game back then. The Dodgers manager kept running Koufax out to pitch, since he was so dominant that day. He won the game and showed Cubs hitters that he was going to be the preeminent hurler of the entire league. Overall, he would finish with 269 strikeouts that year. That would seem to be a low total in a few years.
April 24, 1962: Eighteen Cubs Whiffed
Thew Cubs must have HATED seeing that Koufax was slated to pitch against them. He embarrassed them on this early spring day in Chicago. Wrigley Field must have been silent as each Cub trudged back to the dugout. Chances are good that Ernie Banks didn’t say, “Let’s Play Two!” today.
June 30, 1962: No-Hitter No. 1 Vs. Mets
OK. Let’s put this one into perspective. Yes, Sandy Koufax dominated the game, striking out 13 while giving up no hits. On the other hand, it was the 1962 Mets, who might have struggled against a college team. This was about as close to a gimme as any game, and if DraftKings had been around then, people would have put serious money on a no-no.
May 11, 1963: No-Hitter No. 2 Vs. Giants
This one might have felt pretty sweet since it came against the Dodgers’ longtime rival, the Giants. Koufax was more of a complete pitcher here, only striking out four while keeping all the San Francisco hitters off the basepaths save for two walks. This was the second of four straight wins in the month for the Los Angeles ace.
May 4, 1964: New Year, Same Result Against Cubs
Ernie Banks and the Cubs had to have hoped that Koufax could be beaten after a relatively pedestrian April by the lefty’s standards. Hah. No. Apparently that made the lefty mad. He struck out 13 Cubbies in 10 innings. The Dodgers won in the bottom of the 10th, giving him his second win of the season.
June 4, 1964 – Filthy Against The Phillies (AKA No-No No. 3)
The undisputed best pitcher in baseball at the time went into Connie Mack Stadium and pitched so well that even the ghost of the stadium’s namesake likely gasped. He struck out 12 and walked only one, just missing out on a perfect game. Phillies fans had to have grudgingly admired the dominant performance.
1965: Striking Out 382 Batters AND a Perfect Game?!
This was a time in the game when hitters weren’t trying to blast every ball into the stands. They knew contact was a better bet. Koufax still made them look silly, striking out 382 overall that season. He had 21 games with 10 or more strikeouts, putting him in an echelon above almost every other pitcher in the game, save for Bob Gibson or Juan Marichal. Oh yeah, he threw a perfect game that year, too. Against the Cubs, of course.
April 22, 1966: 11 Strikeouts Against the Cubs
Do you think by this point the Cubs players seriously considered calling out sick when Koufax took the mound? Whatever the case, he carved them up for 11 strikeouts in a complete-game win. The lefty ace was a bit on the wild side, walking three, but Chicago hitters had to consider the fact that they got six hits as a moral victory of sorts. Koufax struck out 317 hitters in 323 innings … and then called it a career. It was possibly the greatest closing act of all time in baseball.
Postseason Dominance, Too
Don’t look at his 4-3 record. Look at his microscopic 0.95 overall ERA. Look at his 61 strikeouts, including nine in Game 1 of the 1966 Series, with his arm barking. Also, look at his two World Series MVPs. The man lived to pitch in the spotlight, and he earned his reputation. Although he didn’t pitch as long as other pitchers, his overall brilliance rightly landed him in the Hall of Fame.