Caguas Criollos, Puerto Rico Winter League 1956-1957.

During his first two years as a Dodger, 1955 & 1956, Koufax gained little experience — just 28 appearances (15 starts) and barely 100 innings pitched. He was frustrated and quick to blame his wildness and unsteadiness on the lack of regular work. It was a vicious cycle. He couldn’t pitch until his control improved — but the less he pitched, the worse his control became. While in Brooklyn for three years, Koufax considered himself not a pitcher but an arm. He could not help but feel that some potentially prime years were wasted.

Koufax got a boost in May 1956, however, with the arrival of Sal Maglie. Koufax and Don Drysdale (then a 19-year-old rookie) sat in the bullpen with the savvy veteran and listened to analysis of what was happening on the field.

During the 1956-57 offseason, rather than touring Japan with most of the Dodgers, Koufax got a chance to practice his “lessons” in winter ball. The Dodgers arranged for him to pitch in Puerto Rico with the Caguas Criollos. The manager was Ben Geraghty, from the Braves organization, a renowned developer of young talent. Although Koufax posted a won-lost record of just 3-6, he showed more glimpses of brilliance — a one-hit shutout and a two-hit shutout. Roberto Clemente got the only hits off Koufax in the latter game, Sandy’s last in Puerto Rico. Caguas had to release him because a league ruling precluded teams from having more than three imported players with big-league experience.

Posted on

Saturday 19 March 2022

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• Sandy Koufax: The Left Arm of God

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