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Los Angeles Dodgers: Mt. Rushmore

By Evan Lovett

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers line up for the National Anthem to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers line up for the National Anthem to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 9, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers former pitcher Sandy Koufax (left) speaks with president Stan Kasten before the Dodgers play against the New York Mets in game one of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
October 9, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers former pitcher Sandy Koufax (left) speaks with president Stan Kasten before the Dodgers play against the New York Mets in game one of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Sandy Koufax

Another player with a far greater impact than on the field during his playing career, Koufax was not simply a precursor to Clayton Kershaw, he is the pitcher against whom all other pitchers are measured.

After being called up as a precocious 19-year old in 1955, some – including Scully – thought that the Dodgers signing the “beach bum” was a mistake.

For several seasons, Scully painfully watched Koufax try to corral his huge breaking ball and stealthy fastball. Picking up only 36 wins against 40 losses heading into 1961, it looked as if Koufax’s talent would be on display only intermittently.

Then, as fate would have it, Koufax rattled off the best five-year period in pitching history. With three Cy Young awards, two MVP second-place finishes and six consecutive All-Star appearances, Koufax earned his place in baseball and Dodgers lore.

He also factored heavily in three World Series titles, including 1965 when he famously refused to pitch game one because his Jewish faith prevented him from pitching on Yom Kippur.

He ended up winning World Series MVP by virtue of his two wins and 29 strikeouts in 24 innings, allowing only one earned run.

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