On this day in 1965, on two days’ rest, Sandy Koufax pitched a 2-0 shutout to bring a World Series title to Los Angeles. Koufax had made history eight days earlier when he refused to pitch the first game of the Series so that he could observe Yom Kippur. On October 14, he made history again, recording his second shutout in the Series and capping off an incredible year that included a new strikeout record, a perfect game (on September 9), the Cy Young Award, the Triple Crown, and, now, the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
To this day Koufax remains a legend, not just for his pitching prowess, or even his status as the preeminent American Jewish athlete, but also for his demeanor. Though fiercely competitive, he was known for being gracious and respectful. In an age when iconic pitchers, including his teammate, Don Drysdale, routinely employed brushback pitches—which often struck batters—to maintain control of the plate, Koufax purposefully refrained from such strategies. Over his career, he hit just 18 batters. He was also rumored to have apologized to several of the pitchers whose records he broke.
As one of the greatest to ever play the national pastime, his career remains an enduring legacy, both for the Major Leagues and for the American Jewish community.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel