On June 30, 1962, Sandy Koufax, the legendary left-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieved the milestone of throwing his first career no-hitter. In a stellar performance against the New York Mets, Koufax struck out 13 batters, issued five walks, and secured a 5-0 victory at Dodger Stadium. Interestingly, the five baserunners allowed in this no-hitter are the most in franchise history. This marked a significant achievement for the Dodgers, being their first no-hitter since moving to Los Angeles in 1958 and only the second thrown at Chavez Ravine, with Bo Belinsky’s no-hitter for the Los Angeles Angels earlier that same year.
Koufax started the historic game with an immaculate first inning, striking out the side in just nine pitches. Despite frequently going to full counts and allowing five walks, Koufax managed to prevent any runner from reaching second base. The 1962 season heralded the beginning of one of the most remarkable five-year periods in MLB history, which included Koufax throwing no-hitters in three consecutive seasons (1962-1964) and achieving a perfect game on September 9, 1965 against the Chicago Cubs, a still unmatched feat for the Dodgers.
Over his 12-season career with the Dodgers spanning both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Koufax contributed to four World Series teams and earned three unanimous Cy Young Awards, alongside being named the 1963 National League MVP and a seven-time All-Star. He retired at the young age of 30 after the 1966 season and found his place in history as the youngest player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
In addition to Koufax’s achievement, June 30 is also notable in Dodgers history for Pedro Guerrero, who, in 1985, hit a pivotal home run off Bruce Sutter in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves, leading the team to a 4-3 victory. This home run marked Guerrero’s last at-bat in June and tied an MLB record for the most home runs in a single month at 15. Sammy Sosa holds the record with 20 home runs in June of 1998, while Cody Bellinger closely approached Guerrero’s feat during his MVP season in 2019, hitting 14 home runs in a short span.
Both of these significant events highlight the enduring legacy of the Dodgers franchise and its remarkable players. The contributions of legends like Koufax and Guerrero continue to inspire both current players and future generations.