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Harper Perennial (2010), Edition: Reissue, Paperback, 288 pages
Description
"The incomparable and mysterious Sandy Koufax is revealed.... This is an absorbing book, beautifully written." --Wall Street Journal "Leavy has hit it out of the park...A lot more than a biography. It's a consideration of how we create our heroes, and how this hero's self perception distinguishes him from nearly every other great athlete in living memory... a remarkably rich portrait." -- Time The instant New York Times bestseller about the baseball legend and famously reclusive Dodgers' pitcher Sandy Koufax, from award-winning former Washington Post sportswriter Jane Leavy. Sandy Koufax reveals, for the first time, what drove the three-time Cy Young award winner to the pinnacle of baseball and then--just as quickly--into self-imposed exile.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member ehines
Better than your average player bio. But Koufax is more interesting than your average player. Definitely a bit too long on Koufax the Jewish hero, perhaps a bit too long on Koufax the Jew. And the book suffers from Koufax's failure to cooperate--lots of other people talking about Koufax, very
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little from Koufax himself. And unfortunately Koufax who, seemingly, people had a great need for--they had roles he needed to play--that Jewish hero, that rebel, that humanitarian, that recluse, that intellectual, that square peg, whatever. Unfortunately Koufax lost a great opportunity here to put something a bit more solid and a bit less wishful at the center of all that. Leavy would have done him proud, I think. But maybe he's just as well people have their Koufaxes and he'l keep his to himself. Show Less
LibraryThing member ghr4
Jane Leavy's Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy is a well-crafted biography of one of the most talented but least understood sports figures of the 20th century. Though handicapped by virtually no input from Koufax himself, Leavy, through extensive quotes and anecdotes from many of those around him over
The book's structure interweaves two threads, with chapters alternating between an inning-by-inning account of Koufax's 1965 perfect game pictched against the Chicago Cubs, and the chronicle of his life and ascendant baseball career. Leavy provides insight into the early struggles with his control, and the pain through which he pitched during the dominant final five years with the Dodgers. The author also explores the elements of Koufax's Jewish heritage: the occasional undercurrents of anti-Semitism; his decision to not pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year; how he broke stereotypes; and how he eternally embodied the pride of the Jewish community.
Leavy has a good feel for the nuances of baseball and the rhythm of the game, and she exhibits flashes of lyrical prose. Sandy Koufax's elusiveness remains at the core of his mystique. The epilogue puts his career in perspective, and hints at his life after baseball. The final paragraph beautifully tied it all together, putting a little lump in my throat and a smile on my face.
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the years, still manages to shape a fairly vivid portrait of a very private man whose remarkable pitching prowess thrust him into baseball's spotlight.The book's structure interweaves two threads, with chapters alternating between an inning-by-inning account of Koufax's 1965 perfect game pictched against the Chicago Cubs, and the chronicle of his life and ascendant baseball career. Leavy provides insight into the early struggles with his control, and the pain through which he pitched during the dominant final five years with the Dodgers. The author also explores the elements of Koufax's Jewish heritage: the occasional undercurrents of anti-Semitism; his decision to not pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year; how he broke stereotypes; and how he eternally embodied the pride of the Jewish community.
Leavy has a good feel for the nuances of baseball and the rhythm of the game, and she exhibits flashes of lyrical prose. Sandy Koufax's elusiveness remains at the core of his mystique. The epilogue puts his career in perspective, and hints at his life after baseball. The final paragraph beautifully tied it all together, putting a little lump in my throat and a smile on my face.
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LibraryThing member Stevejm51
Sandy Koufax was always a class act, and Jane Leavy explores why in her excellent book about the dominating lefty. He loved to pitch and get out hitters, but all the hoopla and fan craziness was not for him. It embarrassed him. Leavy structured the book around Koufax's perfect game against the
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Cubs, and it works pretty well. I didn't know that he and Don Drysdale were the first baseball players to hold out for a better contract. Though not 100 percent successful, they opened the door for others to follow. An engrossing read. Show Less
LibraryThing member homan9118
The book was alternating chapters, with one chapter being about his life story, and the next chapter being about his perfect game against the Cubs. Each chapter about the perfect game was one inning per chapter. By the time I was reaching the climax of the perfect game I was becoming more and more
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knowledgeable about Koufax, and found myself emotionally touched by the baseball game as I came to know more about Sandy Koufax the man. It was a good book, for sure. Leavy did a pretty good job with it, although sometimes her writing seemed kind of... awkward? It just seemed at times she would say things that had nothing to do with the subject at hand. It wasn't enough to ruin the book though, as I still enjoyed it. Show Less
LibraryThing member nmele
In the years of Koufax's ascendancy, my family was still reeling from the Dodgers' desertion. So we ignored them as much as we could, which meant that apart from a vague impression of a super pitcher, I did not know much about Koufax until reading this book. An excellent account of his career and a
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valiant attempt to capture the essence of a complex man who tends still to be put into convenient boxes. Show Less
LibraryThing member untraveller
Less a biography and something more resembling a memorial. Still good. Finished 12.04.2021.
LibraryThing member Castlelass
Non-fiction about the legendary Dodgers’ pitcher Sandy Koufax. It is told in alternating chapters of one of his best pitching performances and biographical insights. The author sets the record straight regarding several myths. It harkens back to an earlier age in baseball, prior to free agency,
The author weaves together many interviews from players, fans, and management to provide a fascinating picture of an interesting man. This is not a typical biography, as in it does not follow a linear progression through his life, but instead contains social commentary about the times and stories from his life that highlight his personal qualities. Overall, I found it an enjoyable read. Recommended to baseball fans interested in learning more about the life of Sandy Koufax.
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when “bonus babies” were required to remain on the major league team even if it would have served everyone better to go through the learning experiences in the minor leagues. It covers a wide range of topics, including his Jewish faith, friendships with other players, integrity, and accomplishments. It raises questions of how much better he could have been if not mishandled by the Dodgers early in his career. It sheds light on decisions such as the joint hold-out with Don Drysdale and why he retired when he did. I was astounded at the extremes he endured to deal with the pain in his arm, near the end of his career, while still managing to attain spectacular results.The author weaves together many interviews from players, fans, and management to provide a fascinating picture of an interesting man. This is not a typical biography, as in it does not follow a linear progression through his life, but instead contains social commentary about the times and stories from his life that highlight his personal qualities. Overall, I found it an enjoyable read. Recommended to baseball fans interested in learning more about the life of Sandy Koufax.
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ISBN
0061779008 / 9780061779008