How Sandy Koufax is a Model for Persevering | Bob Klein

Heroes can come from all walks of life. The values that we admire can find themselves reflected in practically any career or discipline, and athletes can serve as beacons of inspiration even for people with no interest in sports. Take Sandy Koufax, for instance. The Hall of Fame player may be one of the most acclaimed pitchers in the history of baseball, but he’s also a model of perseverance and discipline.

Despite earning a reputation as one of the most important ballplayers of all time, Koufax’s career wasn’t that long-lived. But he spent his twelve-year career where he became known for the grace and consistency of his pitching style, and he dominated the mound for a substantial portion of the 1960s.

Ironically, Koufax didn’t play much of the sport in his younger years. Instead, he spent his high school years playing basketball and even managed to take the role of captain in his senior year. He didn’t begin playing baseball at all until he was recruited into a local youth league known as the “Ice Cream League”. But his early promise paid out quickly, and he earned a position among the Brooklyn Dodgers after a single year out of high school.

But while Koufax showed early signs of promise, it didn’t pay out for him or the Dodgers right away. It would take him two years to enter the starting rotation, and even then he was seen as a largely inconsistent player prone to wild pitches. That didn’t stop Koufax. The pitcher continued to work tirelessly at perfecting his pitch until he finally found his breakthrough in 1961.
The next five years would be some of the most prodigious in any player’s career. Highlights included 11 shutouts in 1963, four career no-hitters, and a perfect game (the first thrown by a left-handed pitcher) in 1965.

Even after being diagnosed with arthritis, Koufax pitched through an entire 1966 season before announcing his retirement. But more important than his streak with the Dodgers was his commitment to his discipline. Koufax pushed hard, sticking with the sport despite a five-year lull, and that can be an inspiration for anyone who has a passion but might not possess the sort of prodigious talent they hoped.

This blog was originally posted on BobKleinNewportBeach.wordpress.com