Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy (P.S.)

Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy (P.S.)

<P>No immortal in the history of baseball retired so young&#44; so well&#44; or so completely as Sandy Koufax. After compiling a remarkable record from 1962 to 1966 that saw him lead the National League in ERA all five years&#44; win three Cy Young awards&#44; and pitch four no&#45;hitters including a perfect game&#44; Koufax essentially disappeared. Save for his induction into the Hall of Fame and occasional appearances at the Dodgers training camp&#44; Koufax has remained unavailable&#44; unassailable&#44; and unsullied&#44; in the process becoming much more than just the best pitcher of his generation. He is the Jewish boy from Brooklyn&#44; who refused to pitch the opening game of the 1965 World Series on Yom Kippur&#44; defining himself as a man who placed faith over fame. This act made him the standard to which Jewish parents still hold their children. Except for his autobiography (published in 1966)&#44; Koufax has resolutely avoided talking about himself. But through sheer doggedness that even Koufax came to marvel at&#44; Jane Leavy was able to gain his trust to the point where they talked regularly over the three years Leavy reported her book. With Koufax&#8242;s blessing&#44; Leavy interviewed nearly every one of his former teammates&#44; opponents&#44; and friends&#44; and emerged with a portrait of the artist that is as thorough and stylish as was his command on the pitching mound.</P>