On June 4, 1964, Sandy Koufax, the legendary left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, delivered one of his most memorable performances, achieving the third of his four career no-hitters against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.
Koufax began strong, notching two strikeouts in the first inning. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that he allowed his only baserunner, a controversial two-out walk to Phillies third baseman Dick Allen. Nonetheless, Allen’s presence on the bases was short-lived, as he was caught stealing, preserving Koufax’s shutout.
The remaining innings saw Koufax dominate, concluding the game with a total of 12 strikeouts, complemented by seven groundouts and three fly outs, leading the Dodgers to a 3-0 victory. This performance improved his season record to 6-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.34.
Koufax’s stellar season would continue, finishing with a remarkable 19-5 record, leading the league with a 1.74 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and seven shutouts. His prowess on the mound earned him a spot in the All-Star Game, marking his fourth consecutive selection, although he surprisingly ranked only third in the National League Cy Young voting.
Throughout his illustrious 12-year career with the Dodgers, Koufax achieved a record of 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA, ultimately retiring after winning the pitching triple crown in 1966 due to chronic arthritis when he was only 30 years old. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, receiving an impressive 86.87% of the votes. That same year, the Dodgers honored him by retiring his jersey number 32 and later erecting a statue in his likeness at Dodger Stadium.
Additionally, the history of the Dodgers on this day includes Walter O’Malley’s commitment to relocating the team from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1957. In 1998, the franchise also made headlines by trading Hideo Nomo to the New York Mets.
Recalling these historic moments emphasizes the rich legacy of the Dodgers and highlights the remarkable achievements of Sandy Koufax, whose impact on the game continues to resonate.