Latest news with #SandyKoufax
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball's move to more diverse roster
No organization in all of sports has been as diversified as baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers. Indeed, few businesses in any field can match the Dodgers in terms of employing men and women from every faith, color and ethnicity in the world. From Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have a rich and long history of diversity: Advertisement Consider: *The Dodgers signed the first African-American to a major league contract and Jackie Robinson, beginning in 1947, built a Hall of Fame career. They shortly added Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Joe Black, who all played major roles in the Dodgers success during those years in Brooklyn. Dodgers former players Don Newcombe and Sandy Koufax throw out the first pitch. *The Dodgers had the greatest Jewish player (although not the first, that would be Hank Greenberg) in Sandy Koufax. He retired from the game 59 years ago, but remains a dignified and beloved presence whenever he's at Dodger Stadium. *The greatest – and most famous – Mexican to play in the majors played for the Dodgers – Fernando Valenzuela. And he was more than a pitching star, he was a phenom, especially among the large Hispanic population in Los Angeles. Anyone who ever experienced it will not forget the magic of 'Fernando Mania.' Advertisement *Chan Ho Park became the first Korean in the majors, pitching for the Dodgers in 1994. Twenty eight Koreans have followed Park into the majors. *The most famous player in the game today is from Japan and wears Dodger Blue – Shohei Ohtani. (It should be noted that the Dodgers made these moves for the primary purpose of winning. All the players listed above became All-Stars and the team won a World Series with Robinson, Koufax, Valenzuela and Ohtani. Attendance also flourished, especially during 'Fernando Mania'. *Manager Dave Roberts is the only Japanese-American manager in the majors. And a highly successful one, having guided the club to nine consecutive postseason appearances. Advertisement *Kiki Hernandez is Puerto Rican, Miguel Rojas Venezuelan. Three of their starting pitchers this year are Japanese. *There's also been players in the past from the Dominican Republic like Manny Mota, Adrian Beltre, Pedro Guerrero and Manny Ramirez. *One of the first females to work in a major league front office was Kim Ng, an assistant general manager for the team in 2002. There apparently is no discrimination in the Dodgers when it comes to the bottom line – winning. Hear hear. Pete Donovan is a Palm Desert resident and former Los Angeles Times sports reporter. He can be reached at pwdonovan22@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball's move to more diverse roster
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal joins Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Clayton Kershaw in MLB history
The post Tarik Skubal joins Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Clayton Kershaw in MLB history appeared first on ClutchPoints. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal is having an incredible season. That season continued on Sunday, as the hurler put himself in great company once again. Skubal joined some of the game's greatest pitchers of all-time with a stellar performance against the Cleveland Guardians. Advertisement 'Tarik Skubal is the 4th left-handed pitcher in MLB history to have at least 3 starts in a single season featuring 0 R, 0 BB and 10+ K, joining Sandy Koufax in 1965, Randy Johnson in 2004 and Clayton Kershaw in 2015,' per the X account Nugget Chef, who writes for the Baseball is Dead Podcast. Skubal pitched seven innings against the Guardians Sunday. He struck out 10 batters, without allowing a run. The Tigers pitcher has made quite a name for himself, despite just playing in Major League Baseball since 2020. Tarik Skubal is putting on a masterclass for the Tigers Skubal is leading the Tigers this season from the mound. Detroit has a fantastic record, with 56 wins on the season heading into Sunday's game with Cleveland. The Tigers are first in the American League Central, and look like a strong contender to get to the World Series. Advertisement The Tigers pitcher has put together a 10-2 record, with an earned run average just over 2. He also has a whopping 23 strikeouts in his last two outings for Detroit. Skubal could find himself once again receiving all sorts of honors at the end of the season. Last year, the Tigers hurler was named an All-Star, as well as the MLB strikeout leader. He was also the AL wins leader, and the American League ERA Leader. Skubal also won a Cy Young. 'Skubal has gone to a place that few pitchers reach,' Bradford Doolittle wrote for ESPN. 'He's in the top four of the AL in wins (first), ERA (fourth) and strikeouts (second). Given his trajectory, it's possible Skubal will win his second straight pitching Triple Crown. The only pitchers to do that in back-to-back seasons: Grover Alexander (1915-16), Lefty Grove (1930-31) and Sandy Koufax (1965-66).' Tigers fans are certainly grateful that Skubal is on their team. Related: Why Tigers' Tarik Skubal is 'disappointed' despite All-Star nod Related: MLB rumors: Yankees, Tigers, Cubs among trade suitors for $70 million Pirates star
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Letters to Sports: Split decision on Bill Plaschke's 'greatest' Dodgers column
Bill Plaschke has decided that Clayton Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. Given the distinct eras in which they both pitched, and the completely different roles starting pitchers have today, it is really impossible to definitively conclude who is the absolute greatest. I think the best we can say is that, without much doubt, Sandy Koufax had the greatest five-year stretch of any pitcher in baseball history, and at his peak, was the most dominant pitcher in the history of the game. Kershaw, on the other hand, has had the greatest career and consistency of performance by any Dodger pitcher ever. And perhaps, Bill, it is best if we just leave it at that. Drew Pomerance Tarzana With all due respect to Bill Plaschke, why does Clayton Kershaw have to be "greater" than Sandy Koufax, or Don Drysdale for that matter? Can't we just enjoy all their greatness as part of Dodgers history without anointing one greater than another? Don't forget, Drysdale pitched six consecutive shutouts and 58 scoreless innings. What's greater than that? Advertisement Rhys Thomas Valley Glen In what should have been the easiest article to write in Mr. Plaschke's illustrious career, Bill completely whiffs when comparing Kershaw to Koufax. Baseball's dramatic evolution over the last 60 years makes it impossible to compare the greatness of both men. Sandy and Clayton represent the best in Dodgers baseball and there is no need to celebrate the greatest Dodgers pitcher of the 21st century at the expense of the greatest Dodgers pitcher of the 20th century. Rob Demonteverde Brea Special 'K ' night In the game when Clayton Kershaw got his 3,000th strikeout, the Dodgers had a Hollywood ending when Freddie Freeman drove Shohei Ohtani in for a walk-off victory. It was fitting that strikeout number 3,000 came at the expense of Vinny Capra — Vinny as in Vin Scully, and Capra as in legendary filmmaker Frank Capra. Advertisement Ken Feldman Tarzana Discriminating concern The Dodgers are going to lose on their defense of their DEI programs for the simple paraphrasing in the reason set forth by Chief Justice Roberts that the way to end discrimination is not more discrimination … which is what the Dodgers engage in. They have touted it over and over again publicly. The irony is that DEI is the absolute last thing the organization would think about in assembling and paying those on its 40-man roster. Strangely, the Dodgers' supposedly brilliant owners and management fail to realize that absent DEI, just hiring the best applicants would produce plenty of diversity in their baseball organization. Advertisement Kip Dellinger Santa Monica All credit to the Dodgers for their DEI programs. I hope that they don't back down. I have not been a fan of billionaire hedge fund CEOs. However, if Stephen Miller's stooges are going after Mark Walter, I can only have new respect for him. Good for you, Mr. Walter. Noel Park Rancho Palos Verdes The king's return LeBron James maxed out his pay, taking $52 million for next season, leaving the Lakers with $6 million to spend on free agents and trades, which won't get much in today's NBA. Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Tom Brady are examples of superstars who took pay cuts to help their teams build a championship roster. Advertisement Such is the difference between a team player and, well, whatever LeBron is. I guess he must be more worried about making his next mortgage payment than winning championships. Jack Nelson Los Angeles Breaking news: LeBron James has decided he will allow his employer, the Los Angeles Lakers, to pay him a reported $52.6 million next season. In other news, the sun once again rose this morning and Earth continues to rotate properly on its axis. Richard Turnage Burbank Let me get this straight. Two weeks ago LeBron James decried the "ring culture" in the NBA. Fast-forward to James opting into his $52-million player option and his proxy, Rich Paul, releases a cryptic statement indicating James expects the Lakers to make the necessary improvements to make them a championship team. Thought rings didn't matter, LeBron? Advertisement Mark S. Roth Playa Vista Purple and sold Bill Plaschke got it right in the case of the Lakers' new ownership. A new broom does not have to sweep clean! Even with their flaws and mistakes, Rob Pelinka and rookie coach JJ Redick earned at least a stay of execution. They have accomplished 'enough' to earn the eventual trust of the new boss in town. With this massive shift in ownership, having some semblance of continuity is not a bad idea. Rick Solomon Lake Balboa Mixed emotions For over 20 years, there has not been a single NHL player I detested more than Corey Perry, especially when he played for that other local team. I have called him (words unsuitable to print here) more than any player in any sport. Hopefully his stay is no more than one season … unless he helps the Kings win the Stanley Cup. In that case — love ya, Corey. Always have and always will. Advertisement Erik Schuman Fountain Valley As a die-hard Kings fan, I have mixed feelings on their signing Corey Perry. But, I suppose, in the team's desperation to make it out of the first round, they signed a player that guarantees that they will be next year's Stanley Cup Final runner-up! Nick Rose Newport Coast The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: sports@ Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Plaschke: There are 3,000 reasons Clayton Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodger history
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tips his cap while walking off the field after tossing the 3,000th strikeout of his career to end the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) The slider was sizzling. The hitter was frozen. The strikeout was roaring. With an 84-mph pitch on the black in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday at a rollicking Dodger Stadium, Clayton Kershaw struck out Vinny Capra looking to become the 20th player in baseball history to record 3,000 strikeouts. Advertisement As impressive as the pitch itself was the cementing of a truth that has been evident for several years. Clayton Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. Clayton Kershaw records his 3,000th career strikeout as the Dodgers take on the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times) Greater than even the great Sandy Koufax. Gasp. Scream. Please. I wrote this opinion three years ago and was deluged with a barrage of emphatic and mostly emotional arguments for Koufax. How dare you diss our Sandy! Koufax won more championships! Koufax never choked in the postseason! Koufax was more dominant! All true, as well as Koufax being a tremendous human being worthy of every syllable of praise. But as Wednesday so clearly proved in front of a history-thirsty crowd at Chavez Ravine, Kershaw has done something that any defense of Koufax can not equal. Advertisement He's endured. He's taken the ball far more than Koufax while outlasting him in virtually every impact pitching category. Koufax was a meteor, streaking across the sky for the greatest five seasons of any pitcher in baseball history. Kershaw, meanwhile, has become his own planet, looming above for 18 years with a permanent glow that is unmatched in Dodgers lore. Koufax was an amazing flash. Kershaw has been an enduring flame. Koufax was Shaq. Kershaw is Kobe. When I last wrote this, Manager Dave Roberts waffled on the question of whether Kershaw was the greatest Dodger pitcher ever. This time, not so much. Advertisement Read more: Clayton Kershaw reaches 3,000 career strikeouts, is 20th pitcher to do so in MLB history 'Obviously, Sandy is Sandy,' he said Wednesday. 'You're talking about 18 years, though, and the career of the body of work. It's hard to not say Clayton, you know, is the greatest Dodger of all time.' When one talks about the GOAT of various sports, indeed, a key element is always longevity. Tom Brady played 23 seasons, LeBron James has played 22 seasons, and Babe Ruth played 22 seasons. One cannot ignore the fact that Kershaw, in his 18th season, has played six more seasons than Koufax while pitching 463 more regular season innings. With his 3,000 strikeouts he has also fanned 604 more batters than Koufax, the equivalent of 22 more games composed solely of strikeouts, an unreal edge. Advertisement In the great Koufax debate, Kershaw is clearly being punished for his postseason struggles, and indeed his 4.49 postseason ERA doesn't compare to Koufax' 0.95 ERA. But look at the sample size. Kershaw has pitched in 39 postseason games while Koufax has appeared in just eight. Kershaw has had 13 postseason starts that have lasted past the sixth inning while Koufax has had five. Kershaw has pitched in multiple playoff rounds in multiple seasons, while Koufax never pitched in more than one playoff round per season, greatly increasing Kershaw's opportunity for failure. Read more: Clayton Kershaw and 3,000 strikeouts: A partnership built on a consistent three-pitch mix Advertisement Kershaw has indeed stunk up the joint in some of the most devastating postseason losses in Dodger history. But he has taken the mound for nearly five times as many big games as Koufax and, in the end, he has just one fewer World Series championship. In the end, the strongest argument for Koufax supporters is the seemingly obvious answer to a question. If you had to win one game, would you start Koufax or Kershaw? Of course you'd pitch Koufax … if your parameters were limited to five years. But if you wanted to pick a starter and you had to do it inside a two-decade window, you would take Kershaw. Then there are those rarely recited stats that further the argument for Kershaw over Koufax: Kershaw has a better career ERA, 2.51 to 2.76. Kershaw has a better winning percentage, .697 to .655. And despite playing in an era where individual pitching wins are greatly cheapened, Kershaw has 51 more wins than Koufax. Advertisement How rare is 3,000 strikeouts? Fewer pitchers have won 300 games. Only three other pitchers have done so left-handed. Only two pitchers in the last 100 years have done it with one team. Read more: Photos: Kershaw's road to 3,000 Now for the intangibles. If this is indeed the golden age of Dodger baseball — as Andrew Friedman so deftly described it — then the guardian of the era has been Kershaw. The clubhouse culture is borne of his constantly present professionalism. The work ethic starts with him. The accountability is a reflection of him. For 18 years, through injury and embarrassment as well as fame and fortune, he has never complained, never blamed, never pointed fingers, never brought distraction. Advertisement And he always shows up for work. Every day. Every game. Every season. Clayton Kershaw has always been there, which is why he will be there forever on a statue that will surely be erected in the center field plaza next to the bronze figures of Jackie Robinson and, yes, of course, Sandy Koufax. It is unlikely the Dodgers would ever script the words, 'The greatest Dodger pitcher' on the base of his statue. They are understandably sensitive to Koufax and his legacy and importance to a legion of longtime fans. But they know, just as those fans lucky enough to be at Dodger Stadium Wednesday know it. They weren't just watching greatness. They were watching The Greatest. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Associated Press
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
This Date in Baseball - Willie McCovey becomes the 12th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs
June 30 1908 — Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox pitched the third no-hitter of his career at age 41, an 8-0 win over the New York Highlanders. 1948 — Cleveland's Bob Lemon pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers for the first American League no-hitter at night. 1962 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 13 New York Mets en route to the first of four career no-hitters, a 5-0 victory at Dodger Stadium. 1970 — Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati was dedicated, but Henry Aaron spoiled the show for the crowd of 51,050 with a first-inning homer off Jim McGlothlin to send Atlanta past the Reds 8-2. 1978 — Willie McCovey became the 12th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. His shot off Atlanta's Jamie Easterly wasn't enough, with the Braves beating the visiting San Francisco Giants 10-5 in the second game of a doubleheader. 1986 — 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson makes his professional baseball debut with the Memphis Chicks of the AA Southern League and goes 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. 1995 — Eddie Murray of the Cleveland Indians became the second switch-hitter and the 20th player in baseball history to reach 3,000 hits when he singled against the Minnesota Twins. Murray joined Pete Rose, the career hits leader with 4,256, as the only switch-hitters to get 3,000. 1997 — Bobby Witt of Texas hit the first home run by an American League pitcher in a regular-season game in almost 25 years, connecting off Ismael Valdes in the Rangers' 3-2 interleague victory over Los Angeles. 1998 — Sammy Sosa hit his 20th home run in June, extending his major league record for most homers in a month with an eighth-inning shot for the Cubs against Arizona. 2005 — Chad Cordero earned his 15th save in June in the Washington Nationals' 7-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He tied a major league record set by Lee Smith in 1993 and matched by John Wetteland in 1996. 2006 — Adam Dunn hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off closer Bob Wickman to lead Cincinnati to a 9-8 victory over Cleveland. 2008 — Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, hitting his second grand slam in four games and adding a solo shot to lead the Chicago White Sox past Cleveland, 9-7. 2009 — Nick Markakis hit a two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to complete the biggest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history for an 11-10 win. Baltimore trailed 10-1 before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. 2016 — Coastal Carolina capitalized on two errors on the same play for four unearned runs in the sixth inning, and the Chanticleers won their first national championship in any sport with a 4-3 victory over Arizona in Game 3 of the College World Series finals. The Chanticleers became the first school since Minnesota in 1956 to win the title in its first CWS appearance. 2020 — Minor League Baseball officially announces the cancellation of its season as Major League Baseball will keep a 'taxi squad' of eligible players that can be added to the roster if needed. 2021 — Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner ties the major league record with his third hit for the cycle in a 15-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. _____
