Updated Provenance & PSA/DNA LOA
This glove was purchased directly from Koufax's 1956 teammate, Ken Lehman back in the 1980s!
Sandy Koufax, one of MLB’s greatest pitchers ever, wasn’t always a masterful hurler. In fact, in high school his best sport was basketball and when he did play baseball, he played first base. As it turns out, Koufax’s future would indeed be in baseball. Interestingly, when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 19, the southpaw had only pitched in 12 games. After making more adjustments to improve his control, Koufax turned a big corner in 1961 and enjoyed a breakout season, going 18-13 with a league-leading 269 K’s. “The Left Arm of God” had arrived. Over his next five seasons, he was nothing short of spectacular. He went 111-34, earned three Cy Young Awards, pitched four no-hitters, was selected to six All-Star Games, and was named the N.L. MVP in 1963. However, due to severe arthritis in his throwing arm, he was forced to retire following the ‘66 season. To no one’s surprise, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot with 86.9 percent of the vote. Offered here is a well-worn Rawlings game-used glove of Koufax’s from his second season in the majors. That year, the 20-year-old southpaw started 10 games for the Blue Crew, logged 58.2 innings on the mound and struck out 30 batters. His record: 2-2. The Dodgers, meanwhile, won the N.L. pennant that season with a regular-season record of 93-61 before dropping a seven-game World Series battle to the New York Yankees. The featured leather fielder’s glove (model HH) measures 11.5” from base to finger tips and includes a pair of distinctive callouts to Koufax in black marker. His fading uniform number (“32”) can be found to the left of the wrist strap, while one of his nicknames (“Koo Foo”) is seen on the back of the pinky finger sleeve. Features of the glove, which is from the 1956 labeling period, include its “Deep Well Pocket” and X laced “Anchored Web” as well as a “Snugger Adjustment” wrist strap. Its red silk Rawlings manufacturer’s wrist label remains intact. According to the game-used experts at PSA/DNA, "An interesting feature of the glove is what appears to be a dark stain on the palm. Without doing an analysis of the area it’s possible the area is coated with pine tar. Today’s game is highlighted by the umpires checking the pitcher’s hands and glove at the end of an inning, in an effort to uncover the use of a grip substance. This was not the case during Koufax’s storied Hall of Fame career.” This glove is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and shows excellent wear. We were told by our consignor that this glove was purchased directly from Koufax's 1956 teammate, Ken Lehman back in the 1980s. Accompanied by an LOA from PSA/DNA (1G00894).