Sandy Koufax

Choose an answer from the three choices and True or False offered after each question and then "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz.

1. Sanford “Sandy” Koufax was born Sanford Braun, on December 30, 1935 (he took his stepfather’s name Koufax) in New York. What borough was he born in?

• Manhattan
• Bronx
• Brooklyn

2. Koufax graduated from high school and attended the University of Cincinnati on a athletic scholarship. What was the scholarship in?

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football

3. During the tryout with the Pirates, Koufax's pitching broke the thumb of his catcher, Sam Narron, the team's bullpen coach. Branch Rickey, then general manager of the Pirates, told his scout Clyde Sukeforth that Koufax had the "greatest arm [he had] ever seen". The Pirates, however, failed to offer Koufax a contract until after he was committed to signing with the Dodgers.

• True or False?

4. Because Koufax's signing bonus was greater than $4,000, he was known as a bonus baby. That forced the Dodgers to keep him in the major leagues for at least two years before he could be sent to the minors. To make room for him on the roster, the Dodgers had to optioned a player. Who was the player?

• Tommy Lasorda
• Don Drysdale
• Juan Marichal

5. On September 27, 1961, Koufax broke the National League record for strikeouts in a season, surpassing the 58-year-old mark of 267, set in 1903. Who’s record did he break?

• Christy Mathewson
• Wally Post
• Walter Winchell

6. On June 30 against the New York Mets, Koufax threw his first no-hitter; he would finish his career with a then-record four no-hitters. In the first inning of the 5-0 win over the Mets, Koufax struck out three batters on nine pitches to become the sixth National League pitcher and the 11th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-pitch/three-strikeout half-inning.

• True or False?

7. ). After seeing Koufax's Game 1 performance, who was quoted as saying, “I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five.”?

• Whitey Ford
• Yogi Berra
• Chris Mathews

8. Koufax became the sixth pitcher of the modern era to throw a perfect game. What was the date?

• September 15, 1964
• September 9, 1965
• September 30, 1966

9. Koufax and another Dodger player boycotted part of spring training in a contract dispute. Who was the player?

• Don Drysdale
• Steve Carlton
• Manny Boggs

10. In 1972, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Dodgers retired his number. One June 4, 1972, besides Koufax’s number 32, who did NOT have their number retired that day?

• Roy Campanella (39)
• Jackie Robinson (42)
• Chuck Connors (57)

Check Your Answers

• 1. Brooklyn
• 2. Basketball
• 3. True
• 4. Tommy Lasorda
• 5. Christy Mathewson
• 6. True
• 7. Yogi Berra
• 8. September 9, 1965
• 9. Don Drysdale
• 10. Chuck Connors (57)

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