European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 6, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                July 1985 the stars and stripes Page 25 something special about Koufax by Ira Berkow Washington not there was something special about Sandy Koufax last in the Cracker Jack old timers baseball classic at Frk stadium he was chosen honorary Captain of the National league a singular Plum among such teammates As Hank Ernie Banks and warren1 Koufax retains that special even among his perhaps it has something to do with an almost biblical Cycle to his baseball Koufax didst quite have seven years thin and ill and seven years of great and but he did have six of it he went from a Pitcher of enormous but uncontrolled potential catchers wore shinguard when warming him up because so Many of his pitches bounced in the dirt in front of them to a Star of the greatest what was it like facing Koufax it was the former Star of the recalled at the Clas which the National league he had that tremendous fastball that would and a great curve Ball that started at the eyes and broke to the in the you knew you were going to be you were either going to strike out or foul Koufax record was 3640 in his first six sea 12947 in his last maybe that special Quality of Koufax also had to do with his poise and grit on the Mound the memory remains vivid of his breaking a world series record in 1963 by striking out 15 Yankees in one maybe the special Quality also was enhanced by the air of distinction with which he comported even to the Way he adjusted his Cap front and with two fingers of each like Knotting a Bow and maybe the Quality also had something to do with the Way he at the Young age of after having been named the by Young award Winner in 1966 for the third time in four he had led the major leagues in victories with and earned run and games started and games completed and innings pitched and with 317 after having helped pitch the los Angeles dodgers to a their second he suffered from an arthritic and doctors feared that if he continued pitching he could cause permanent damage to his virtually at the height of his Koufax re and he moved to a Small town in Here was the Toast of new York and los Angeles departing the Bright lights for what seemed to some the life of Greta to he became a kind of mystery a photo dodgers Sandy Koufax facing him was frightening what was so mysterious he dressing for the game in the i want running or hiding from the Maine is not another a lot of people lived and still he said he sought some i never liked being shoved and pushed in he but i was around for six years doing saturday afternoon baseball telecasts with and now i work for the in a pitching coach with the team in Spring training and a minor league pitching instructor during the summer in whats the mystery red schoendienst came he looks like you can go out there and still pump the Koufax at 6 185 he does look he was Tan and slim and perhaps Only the hair on his More Salt than Pepper gives an indication that on his next he will be f0 years he spoke about travelling As a pitching instructor and working with Young Bill the Dodg ers vice president in charge of minor league said that Koufax was effective with kids once they got past their Awe of he mentioned Koufax Cowkey approach that puts players at in the minor the players Are on the Way up and Treyve All got their said its a very positive they want to Bui i dont know How much Ive helped i can show them some but no one can make a big league in the end its up to the they help but its satisfying to Sec he had said that he became a better Pitcher when he Learned to control his temper and his maybe it was just a matter of getting lie i see Young players getting angry with themselves the Way i and 1 wish i could Tell them How to curb but theres no secret Koufax grew up in joined the dodgers there in at age and never played a Day in the minor if 1 walked five Guys in a major league it was he but if 1 had done that in the where i should have it would have been Fine a learning he contends that there was no single turning i had a Good Spring in he and it seemed that management was finally going to let me pitch every fourth if i didst do Well in an i might not pitch for three that didst help i kept telling the dodgers that i needed a your control is dependent on in his More inept a Story goes that who is said he want sure whether he was a Shl Emiel or a in a Shl Emiel is someone who spills soup on a Shlam Azel is some one who has soup spilled on or is it vice versa Koufax said 1 really dont remember if i Ever said but there were times when i Felt that As he a television Crew came by and began shooting him from the the Bright Light made him he turned to the three dont television people Ever ask he with a half in said the Man who apparently was head of the he introduced Koufax Shook his and at least let me put on my shirt before you he was asked if he still goes Back to every he i still love a league takes mid season Allstar break baseball the German american league showcases its Talent this weekend in a pair of games in the a leagues 6th annual Allstar game will be held saturday at 1 on Munich Harl aching with the Northern division coached by Mann Heims Claus playing the Southern guided by Jim Frashier of the North Al stars team won last years game at on the players of both Divi Sions join forces on a a Allstar team local Roundup for a game against athletes in a touring squad of collegians from the United that game starts at 1 the Continental sports conference has Only two doubleheaders this with Wiesbaden hosting both at Rhein the flyers temporary Home Wiesbaden plays Span Dahlem on sat urday and ram Stem on first games Start at 1 the european Little league will Cap its 29th season by again sending three championship teams to the United states for world series big league Ages 1618 Besto five Competition will take place july 1315 at with Bonn matched against the the senior divisions Ages 1315 round Robin playoff at Torrejon will take place july teams photo by boo Odem Claus Helmig Allstar coach representing saudi Spain and the United kingdom will the Little leagues 1112year division will also hold its round Robin championship at july competing in this event Are teams from saudi and two teams from Spain and the the 1985 world series for the big league division takes place 1017 at fort Lau the senior division will com Pete at 1217 and the Little league Junior division world series will be at Bowling there will be a King of the Hill Competition at Storck bar Racks in Hillesheim starting at registration is from 11 to entry fee is Golf the Rhein Blick Golf course near Wiesbaden will present a clinic and exhibition starting at 11 Hank Gary Koch and Peter Kostis will conduct the clinic and then play an 18hole the clinic and exhibition Are free and open to the the Continental sports conference will hold its championships at Ramstein Abs Woodlawn Golf starting the 72hole medal play tournament will wind up registration is from 8 to 6 the top six open division first four masters and top four women Advance to the Safe july 2226 in longest drive and closest tothe pin competitions will also be held in the Csc Tennis Vii corps and v corps will hold their championships next starting monday and continuing through the Vii corps tournament will be held at Garmisch and the v corps meet will be conducted on Frankfurt Wald stadium Marathon Fulda will be the site for the Usa eur Marathon scheduled 25 in conjunction with the annual Fulda the Usa eur event will be con ducted simultaneously with the 11 the car cavalry 8th annual min Marathon Miles and the 6th annual run on the Rhoen Miles full May enter Only one of the three participation in the Usa eur mar athon is limited to Active duty military personnel assigned or attached to a unit with in a Usa eur major runners May Register by writing or calling the director of personnel and Community attn Marathon Fulda military Apo 09146 or Fulda military ets 3213 or civilian Arn sports television Tennis Wimbledon women 3 football United states football league semifinal Oakland invaders at Memphis radio baseball los Angeles dodgers at Louis Basenau Chicago White sox at Cleveland