Between 1961 and 1966, Koufax reached a level of greatness—statistically speaking and otherwise— that few other athletes have even touched. In fact, he was nearly unbeatable. During his six-season peak, Koufax developed one of history’s most lethal curve balls, fired off four no-hitters—including a 1965 perfect game, just the fourth since World War I—won 129 games, set a single-season strikeout record that stood through the mid-’70s, and won three World Series rings, along with three Cy Youngs and an MVP award.

“The argument for Koufax is dominance over a four- to five-season period—Yogi Berra was said to have quipped, ‘I can understand how the guy won 25 games, what I don’t get is how he lost five’)—at a time when pitchers were asked to do more than they are now,” said Marc Tracy, the former editor of this here website and a current college sports reporter for The New York Times who co-edited Jewish Jocks, a book about Jewish athletes.

Koufax has another, seemingly paradoxical advantage over the younger Dodgers lefty. Koufax struggled with an arthritic elbow and retired at the peak of his abilities: In his final season, he won 27 games, and posted a 1.73 ERA over a now-stupefying 323 innings pitched.

Koufax covered about 100 innings more in his best seasons than Kershaw.

And America, Kershaw is breaking down himself.

Rich Nye
Jamie Moyer
Dick Ellsworth
Steve Trout
Ken Holtzman
John Lester
Ted Lilly


The Cubs have had there share of decent LHP. Nothing equal to those two,maybe Moyer or Lester over a career. Maybe Ellsworth or Holtzman for a season.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

I agree, Ted Lilly's not equal to Sandy Koufax.

Need to see their WAR before I can make a decision.

Kershaw: 64.9

Koufax: 49

Kershaw is better, hands down.

No.

Post season

Koufax 4-3

Kershaw 7-7

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

How the he'll do you go 4-3 with an era under one.

How the he'll do you go 4-3 with an era under one.

No run support.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

The other pitcher gave up 0 runs in those games.

In other words, he pitched better than Koufax.

I'm confident that nearly everytime Koufax pitched he was the best pitcher on the mound regardless of the result. He was undefeated when his team scored 1 run. That was a different era of baseball though.

Bob Gibson and his rings disagree.

Strenuously.