Sandy Koufax's dominance of the National League from 1962 to 1966 has led many baseball experts to name him the greatest pitcher of all time. Certainly the overpowering left-hander enjoyed the most impressive run at the top of his game of any hurler in the game's history. He added considerably to his mystique by retiring young and all but disappearing from public view.

Over the course of a twelve-year career, Koufax won 111 games, lost only 34, and collected 2,396 strikeouts. He threw four no-hitters, the last an unforgettable perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965. Teamed in the starting rotation with the hard-throwing right-hander Don Drysdale, Koufax provided one half of a two-headed pitching colossus that led the Los Angeles Dodgers to three pennants and two world championships.

Born Sanford Braun in Brooklyn, New York, Sandy eventually assumed his stepfather's last name. He played both baseball and...