1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 PSA Mint 9! ...

Description

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 PSA Mint 9! Sandy Koufax put fear in the opposition for two different reasons during his career. First as a young man pitching for the U. of Cincinnati and then the Brooklyn Dodgers, Koufax could hurl a blazing fastball but had no control. With maturity, he evolved into a mound master who appeared in six All-Star Games, won three Cy Young Awards and was voted MVP in '63. When Koufax signed with the Dodgers in 1955, he wasn't the HoF pitcher as history remembers him. Catcher Norm Sherry felt the man with the golden arm was overthrowing, and suggested to him in 1961 that he "ease off a bit." Taking his advice, Koufax closed out the season with eighteen wins. It was smooth sailing from that point on, as Koufax's over-the-top motion earned him six years that were just as prolific. From 1961 through 1966, the fan-favorite threw four no-hitters (one a perfect game) and won three (pitcher's) Triple Crowns, two World Series MVP Awards, three Cy Young Awards (two by unanimous vote), and two Hickock Belts (the only man to be the recipient more than once). At retirement, his fans ultimately concluded that Koufax was the greatest athlete to ever step foot on a mound. Going out on top, his final season of 1966 was among his finest. Cy Young voting was unanimous, his third Award in a four-year span, his 1.72 ERA was a full half-run better than second place finisher Mike Cuellar, and his tally of 27 victories, 317 KOs were likewise tops in the National League. Without the services of Koufax, there is no question but that the 1966 National League pennant would have flown over some other ballpark besides Dodger Stadium.

Koufax made his gum card debut as card #123 from the 1955 Topps series. The set is no stranger to HoF rookies as both Clemente and Killebrew make their initial Topps appearances. Graded PSA Mint 9, this is one of twenty-three at this grade level with two somehow grading higher from a sampling of close to 5,000 submissions (top .005%). The condition report can be summed up very shortly and accurately. I hope you are as pleased to read "It is simply brand new" as we are to type those words generally limited to cards from 2005, not 1955. The colors leap off the surface. The gloss consistently glimmers in the light from the farthest left edge to the farthest right. Centering is as perfect as one can expect. Corners, each pointing proudly stand at full attention to uncompromising 90-degree angles. This is a tremendous addition to any collection be it a dozen cards, a hundred cards or thousands.

More information about Sandy Koufax Sports Player.

View Certification and Population Details from PSA