(LOT 75)
Extremely Rare June 29, 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Ticket Stub Marking Sandy Koufax's Ebbets Field Debut! (PSA "Auth") – One of Only 3 PSA Encapsulated Koufax Ebbets Field Debut Tickets
"Trying to hit Sandy Koufax's fastball is like trying to eat soup with a fork" – Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame Slugger Willie Stargell
No truer words were ever spoken for over a four-year period from 1963-1966, Dodgers Hall of Fame fire-balling southpaw Sandy Koufax was virtually unhittable. Likewise, another near-impossible task is trying to locate a ticket from Sandy Koufax's inaugural Ebbets Field game, with the flame-throwing left-hander making his debut in the legendary Flatbush, Brooklyn ballpark on June 29, 1955. Presented here just happens to be one of only three known PSA encapsulated tickets from that special day when the 19-year old touted star toed the Ebbets Field rubber for the very first time. Only five days earlier, Koufax had made his highly anticipated MLB debut at Milwaukee County Stadium in a "mop-up" role of an 8-2 Dodgers loss to the Braves. One of five Dodgers pitchers used that day, Sandy would toss two scoreless innings while whiffing two batters. On June 29th, the young phenom would again be used in a "mop-up" role in the 9th inning at Ebbets Field.

Trailing 6-1 to the cross-town rival N.Y. Giants, manager Walt Alston would send the hard-throwing teenager to the mound in the top of the ninth, with Koufax posting one strikeout while yielding two hits and a base on balls, fortunately escaping without any runs being scored. It was less than a year earlier when renowned Brooklyn Dodger's scout Al Campanis "locked-up" the fire-balling Koufax with a $6,000 contract and $14,000 signing bonus in 1954. Koufax's legacy can be traced back to his Brooklyn upbringing where he attended Lafayette High School and started receiving serious recognition from professional scouts as a 17-year old due to his blistering fastball that overmatched virtually every hitter he faced. Koufax moved on to the University of Cincinnati where in his only season he posted a 3-1 record, 2.81 E.R.A. and 51 strikeouts in only 32 innings.

Unfortunately, the only stigma for this young southpaw was his inconsistent control, with Sandy walking 31 batters in those 31 innings. Regardless, Bill Zinser, another Dodgers scout, sent the front office an extremely positive report that was filed away and forgotten. Fortunately for Brooklyn, Dodgers scout Al Campanis had never forgotten Koufax's incredible arm when he saw him throw at Lafayette High School, and managed to get him a tryout at Ebbets Field with Manager Walter Alston and scouting director Fresco Thompson likewise looking on. Campanis assumed a batting stance as Koufax threw his first pitch and the rest was history, with Campanis immediately signing the future Hall of Famer. Sandy Koufax would end his inaugural season with a 2-2 record and formidable 3.02 E.R.A. in 41 innings pitched. Coincidently, that would be the season the Brooklyn Dodgers would finally beat their cross-town rival N.Y. Yankees in a tightly contested 7-game World Series, capturing Brooklyn's only world championship.

The ticket itself portrays fine aesthetics, designated for SECTION 27, ROW 17 and SEAT 11, with the "WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1955 – EBBETS FIELD" text affixed directly below the eloquently scripted red Dodger verbiage. No obtrusive flaws are apparent on either side, the corners still retain a majority of their original square formations and some negligible toning is evident. Who would have ever thought that after struggling his first 6 years, Koufax would eventually turn it all around to become one of our National Pastime's greatest left-handed hurlers. Thanks to the utmost patience of manager Walt Alston, from 1962 thru 1966, Koufax would win 111 games, strike out 1,444 batters (289 per season) and compile a microscopic 1.95 E.R.A., while tossing an incredible four no-hitters! This ride to Cooperstown, New York all started some 65-years ago in June 1955, with this extremely rare "1 of a mere 3" Ebbets Field debut ticket a momentous testament of the remarkable career Koufax was about to embark on!

MIN BID $1,000
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