Roger Arrieta
via Dodgers
THE LEFTY: Today marked the club’s second full-squad workout, with left-handers Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly and Paco Rodriguez throwing bullpens at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Another southpaw arrived to the Dodgers’ facility today as Hall of Famer and Dodger legend Sandy Koufax worked with pitchers, signed autographs for fans and talked to the media. Koufax made his first appearance at Spring Training in 2013 after being named Special Advisor to Dodger Chairman Mark Walter, telling the media that he’ll be at Dodger camp for 10-11 days. Welcome back, Sandy!
During Koufax’s 12-year tenure with the Dodgers, the only Major League uniform he ever donned, the left-hander put together one of the best careers in baseball history, amassing a 165-85 record with a 2.76 ERA in 397 games (314 GS) and tossing four no-hitters, including a perfect game. Koufax baffled hitters in his era, posting three seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA, three seasons with 20 or more complete games and three seasons with 300+ innings pitched. Among several awards in his career, he was the MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1963 and also won Cy Young awards in 1965 and ’66. He was a member of Dodgers’ world championship teams in 1955, ’59, ’63 and ’65, earning MVP honors in 1963 and ’65, when he pitched two shutouts. His postseason record was 4-3 with a 0.95 ERA. He was selected to seven consecutive All-Star games from 1961-66. Koufax retired after the 1966 season at the age of 30, the same season the southpaw tossed 27 complete games (five shutouts) and posted a 1.73 ERA over 41 starts, striking out 317 that season.
Koufax told the media today that he plans on attending Old Timers Day at Dodger Stadium on June 6 vs. Atlanta at 7:10 pm, which will be a celebration of the 1963 World Series Champion Dodgers. During the 1963 World Series, Koufax went 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (3 ER/18.0 IP), fanning 23 while walking only three.
BACK IN THE SWING: Dodger outfielder Carl Crawford took batting practice today for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on Aug. 23, 2012 by Dr. James Andrews. In 139 career games against National League opponents, Crawford is hitting .306 with 16 homers, 51 stolen bases and a .353 on-base percentage.
FOR THE CAUSE: Tomorrow, Dodger players and coaches will sign more than 400 jerseys, 32 bats, 120 dozen baseballs and hundreds of photos, which will be donated to various charities throughout the Los Angeles community.
CHEEEEESE: Today, the Dodgers held the club’s annual Photo Day, flashing the pearly whites for photographers from the Associated Press, Baseball Digest, Baseball Magazine Sha, ESPN the Magazine, Getty Images, KCAL, MLB Photos, MLB.com, Topps, and USA Today. Among players being photographed in Dodger blue for the first time were Carl Crawford, Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Skip Schumaker.
COULD BE LEGENDARY: Dodger alumni Ron Cey, Tim Leary, Fernando Valenzuela, Maury Wills and Steve Yeager will help celebrate a new season of Cactus League play next weekend at Camelback Ranch – Glendale’s inaugural Legends Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24. Former greats from both the Dodgers and White Sox franchises will be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans from 11:30 am-12:30 pm before being introduced in pregame ceremonies for the club’s first Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch – Glendale against the White Sox at 1:05 pm on Saturday, Feb. 23.
GETTING SOCIAL: One of the best ways to stay connected with the Dodgers during Spring Training (#DodgersST) is on social media with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and earlier this year, the club launched a program to reward those dedicated fans interacting with the club online, via social media and at Dodger Stadium. For more information on the Dodgers Rewards program and to sign up to be entered to win great prizes, including Opening Day tickets and autographed baseballs, fans can visit DodgersRewards.com.
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