Any baseball fan will enjoy \Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy."" This fascinating book intertwines Koufax's storied career with a breathtaking inning-by-inning account of his perfect game in 1965.
In ""A Lefty's Legacy,"" author Jane Leavy tells the story of Koufax, an intensely humble but fiercely competitive Jewish baseball player. Koufax, who pitched for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966, transcended the game and became a cultural icon for millions of people when he refused to pitch a game of the World Series because it was Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish faith.
Leavy devotes a chapter to each inning of Koufax's spellbinding Sept. 9, 1965 perfect game and, during the telling, weaves the story with details from the difficult path the left-handed pitcher walked on his way to stardom.
From the beginning, Koufax faced heavy burdens given the strong Jewish influence in Brooklyn.
""Ownership ... regarded the signing of a Jewish ballplayer the way others regarded the coming of the Messiah,"" Leavy wrote.
However, the Dodgers' manager underused Sandy in the first few years of his career because the southpaw was wild, walking almost as many players as he struck out. Between 1955 and 1960, Koufax won 36 games and lost 40.
Everything changed in 1961. Though he compiled an 18-13 record, the difference was in the details. He struck out 269 and walked only 96. And 1962 began a run of the five most dominant seasons by a pitcher in baseball history.
""People didn't come to see whether he won or lost but to be able to say they saw him,"" Leavy wrote. More often than not, the flame-throwing Koufax emerged victorious, winning 111 and losing 34 from 1962 to 1966.
But as the wins increased, so did his physical ailments. Koufax suffered from arm troubles, and he was pitching in an era before modern science advances could prolong his career.
But Koufax wasn't about to let this get in his way, especially in light of all the other obstacles he had overcome.
""After years of bitching about not pitching, he wasn't about to ask out,"" Leavy wrote. In his last season, Koufax went 27-9 and threw 27 complete games along the way. He never missed a start despite his arthritic arm swelling up with fluid every time he pitched.
But for all of his on-the-field heroics, Koufax is revered most for what he did away from the field.
On Oct. 6, 1965, Koufax refused to take the mound for the first game of the World Series because it fell on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
""By refusing to pitch, Koufax defined himself as a man of principle who placed faith above craft,"" Leavy wrote. ""He became inextricably linked with the Jewish-American experience.""
In spite of his sudden infamy (or martyrdom, depending on the perspective), nothing about Koufax's legendary status that developed after that fateful day changed him.
He remained quiet and humble, preferring to deflect attention whenever possible. In fact, even though he agreed to verify facts and allowed his friends to be interviewed for this book, Koufax did not supply any information.
Instead, the author interviewed 469 other people to piece together Koufax's remarkable life. It is that thoroughness that makes this book enjoyable.
In an era of baseball dominated by self-centered players and boorish behavior-like that of last Saturday's Yankees/Red Sox brawl-it is refreshing to read Jane Leavy's illuminating tale of the graceful elegance of Sandy Koufax.
This book is almost certain to appeal to readers on many levels. Baseball aficionados will love this book for obvious reasons-and those interested in Jewish history and culture will also find much to appreciate in this book.
""Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy"" is published by HarperCollins.
