Baseball Legends: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers 1955-1966)

“Pitching is the art of instilling fear.” — Sandy Koufax

Sandford “Sandy” Koufax is arguably the best pitcher baseball has ever seen. As Casey Stengel once said, “Forget the other guy (Walter Johnson) Sandy Koufax for four years was the best pitcher in baseball. Whether Koufax at his peak was the most dominating pitcher ever is debatable, but he definitely was the most artful Dodger — graceful, with body arching through his long stride, his overhand delivery would fool batters with pitches that could be heard, but not seen. Stengel also remarked that ”umpires often can’t see where Koufax pitches go, so they have to judge from the sound of them hitting the catcher’s glove.”

Baseball Legends: Roy Campanella (Dodgers 1948-1957)

“I never want to quit playing ball. They’ll have to cut this uniform off of me to get me out of it.” — Roy Campanella

Roy Campanella, known as “Campy”, is considered by many to be one of the best catchers ever to play baseball. While still in school at the age of just 15, he played on weekends for the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League. He was MVP of the 1941 East-West all-star game, then jumped to the Mexican League in 1942 and 1943. He came back to the Giants and led the league in doubles in 1944 and in RBIs in 1945.

Baseball Legends: Hazen Shirley “Kiki” Cuyler (Pirates 1921-1927, Cubs 1928-1935, Reds 1935-1937, Dodgers 1938)

An outstanding hitter and the fastest player in the NL in his prime, KiKi Cuyler reached the majors in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was a regular in the lineup in 1924, when he hit .354. In 1922, he hit .357 with 45 doubles, 26 triples, 18 homers, 102 RBIs, 144 runs scored, and 41 stolen bases.

In the 1925 World Series against the Washington Senators, he had a game-winning home run in the second game, and in game seven his 2-run double in the 8th defeated Walter Johnson and Washington 9 to 7, making it the only time in his career he would be part of a championship team.

Baseball Legends: Gary Carter (Expos 1974-1984, 1992, Mets 1985-1989, Giants 1990, Dodgers 1991)

Gary Carter stands as one of the prime examples of what happens when you play in Canada: you are largely ignored. Carter’s best years came while wearing a Montreal uniform, as he spent his first eleven seasons there. However, he was overshadowed by Johnny Bench’s play in Cincinnati as the best catcher in the National League in the 1970s, and it was not until the 1980s that he began to receive the recognition he deserved.

After being selected as a reserve catcher for the All-Star team in 1975, 1979, and 1980, Carter received the fan vote to start 1981-1984 and 1986-1988. In 1981 and 1984 he was honored as the All-Star Game MVP. He was also named to the roster in 1985, but did not play that year.

Baseball Legends: Jackie Robinson (Dodgers 1947-1956)

Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player. In his short career, he hit 137 home runs, drove in 734 runs, and stole 197 bases. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1947, the MVP in 1949, received MVP votes 8 out of 10 years, and was a six-time All-Star. But Robinson’s status as a Baseball Legend transcends the playing field, as he was the first African American ballplayer in the modern era of the game.

Branch Rickey scouted Robinson in 1945 while he played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. After signing Robinson, Rickey assigned him to play with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate. Robinson impressed while there, winning the 1946 International League MVP award.

Baseball Legends: Juan Marichal (Giants 1960-1973, Red Sox 1974, Dodgers 1975)

I have heard the legend of Juan Marichal all my life. He played minor league ball in Michigan City, Indiana, for a local minor league team. I looked into his career because of that and found out how great it really was.

He won 243 games in his career posting a 2.89 ERA and striking out 2,303. He made his Major League debut on July 19, 1960 against the Phillies. Juan made his presence known right off the bat by pitching a one hit shutout striking out 12 in the process. Three years later on June 15, 1963 he threw his only no-hitter. Just under a month later on July 2, 1963 he matched up against Warren Spahn in a great pitchers duel. Both pitchers went the distance in a sixteen inning game. Willie Mays hit a home run off of Spahn to end the game 1-0. What a day it must have been to see two great pitchers duel for 16 innings.