TCBA Encyclopedia

Class 7 Hall of Fame Inductee –

Sandy Koufax Blazes Into the Hall

Sandy Koufax

Voting for the TCBA Players’ Hall of Fame concluded this week with a single new member being enshrined. Sandy Koufax blazed alone through the voting process and landed securely in the catcher’s mitt of Hall of Fame glory.

The vote for Sandy Koufax was strong (88.5%), placing him between fellow Hall of Famers Jim Palmer (88.8%) and Steve Carlton (88.2%).

Player		Year Inducted
Seaver,Tom	99.8%	2009
Blyleven,Bert	95.2%	2009
Perry,Gaylord	94.0%	2009
Sutton,Don	89.9%	2009
Palmer,Jim	88.8%	2009
Koufax,Sandy	88.5%	2014
Carlton,Steve	88.2%	2009
Niekro,Phil	88.2%	2009
Gibson,Bob	81.5%	2009
Hershiser,Orel	80.0%	2009
Martinez,Dennis	78.9%	2014
Franco,John	76.0%	2009
Ryan,Nolan	75.7%	2009

Source: TCBA Encyclopedia

Sandy Koufax spent his entire 12-season TCBA career with Jeff Sajdak’s Siouxland Explorers. Koufax’s career began innocuously, as the lefty struggled to a 26-41 record. But all that began to change in 1960. Showing an increasing ability to find the plate, Koufax’s fortunes, and coincidentally those of the Explorers, began to rise. By 1962, Koufax had become the premier pitcher in the league, producing a 21-11 record with a league-leading 267 strikeouts.

In the ensuing seven seasons after 1959, Koufax’s star burned white hot as he produced an incredible 142-56 record. He led the league in wins twice, winning 20+ games four times. He led the league in strikeouts four times, including an amazing 402 in 1967, his final season. He led the league in AERA four times, as well. Arguably his best season out of many great ones occurred in 1966. In that season, Sandy Koufax led the league in innings pitched (3.42), ERA (1.55), strikeouts (375), and shutouts (10).

The extent of Sandy Koufax’s accomplishments is remarkable considering the relatively short span of time during which he pitched. His strong left arm led Siouxland to three Gorney Division crowns, including consecutive division titles in 1965-66. Although never winning a TCBA crown, Koufax’s contributions to the Siouxland Explorers success can’t be overstated. A full 35% of Siouxland’s wins during the incredible seven-season run can be directly attributed to Koufax, while only 10% of the team’s losses during that same time can be assigned to the left handed ace.

By strict measure a somewhat brief career, but by all other standards, Koufax reached the heights of a true star.

CLASS 7 Voting Totals:

Player	70% Needed
Koufax,Sandy	88.5%
Gaetti,Gary	44.3%
Roush,Edd	33.6%
Robinson,Brooks	30.7%
Friend,Bob	26.6%
Strawberry,Darryl	17.8%
Allen,Richie	15.3%
Baines,Harold	11.4%
Stieb,Dave	11.3%
Evans,Dwight	10.9%
Murphy,Dale	10.0%
Davis,Chili	7.7%
Alexander,Pete	6.2%
Falk,Bibb	6.1%
Holtzman,Ken	5.2%
Montgomery,Jeff	5.2%
Saberhagen,Bret	2.3%
Guerrero,Pedro	2.3%

Source: TCBA Encyclopedia

Some players were on the Class 7 ballot for the final time. TCBA Hall of Fame rules allow players to be nominated up to four times, as long as they achieve increasing levels of support. Among those who had been nominated multiple times and will no longer be considered for Hall of Fame entry is: Pete Alexander, Richie Allen, Harold Baines, Bobby Bonds, Tommy Davis, Dwight Evans, Ken Griffey, Sr., Jack McDowell, Dale Murphy, Bret Saberhagen, and Joe Torre.