Reply to "Sandy Koufax"

Quincy1,000+ posts

Branch Rickey, then general manager of the Pirates, sent his son Branch Jr. and his most trusted aide, Clyde Sukeforth, to have a look.

Sukeforth spoke highly of "the boy's habits and disposition", dismissing as inconsequential the wildness "you expect from a boy like that" and the fact that Koufax got clobbered in a sandlot game later that day.

Sukeforth arranged a tryout in Pittsburgh in front of Branch Rickey. Sukeforth quoted Rickey as saying, "This is the greatest arm I have ever seen." But no contract was offered.

Koufax made a second trip to Pittsburgh with his parents expecting to sign a contract, but they left town without the anticipated offer or an explanation. Apparently Branch Rickey Jr. remembered seeing Koufax get shellacked at the sandlot game at Dyker Field and discouraged his father from signing him.

12/18/113:16 PM

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