When Sandy Koufax refused to start the World Series

Yom Kippur took precedence over Fall Classic

The Dodgers had won the National League pennant in 1965 by two games over San Francisco and were scheduled to play Game 1 of the World Series in Minnesota against the surprising Twins, who had cruised to the AL flag in the regular season by a full seven games over the White Sox.

The favoured Dodgers under manager Walter Alston, had their ace LH Sandy Koufax scheduled to pitch Game 1, followed by RH Don Drysdale in Game 2, both men future Hall-of-Famers. But Koufax refused the Game 1 assignment for religious reasons. Beginning at sundown the night before, and then on the fay of Game 1, October 7 it was Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and Koufax put his religious beliefs ahead of his sport. It seemed like a controversial decision at the time.

The Twins won Game 1 behind their ace RH Jim “Mudcat” Grant, while in Game 2, it was LH Jim Kaat cruising over Koufax. The Dodgers returned to L.A. down 0-2 in the series, with fans questioning the dedication to winning of Koufax.…