Sandy Koufax Will Join Dodgers for Spring Training as Special Advisor to Mark Walter

Sandy Koufax will rejoin the Dodgers after severing ties with the organization back in 2003. Koufax was in protest of News Corp., the media conglomerate who owned the Dodgers at the time, because of a defamatory New York Post article which insinuated that the legendary pitcher was homosexual.

Now that the Guggenheim Baseball Management has taken over, they have attracted some of the best front office personnel in the game this offseason. Now they have added one of the best pitchers to have ever graced the mound at Dodger Stadium as a special advisor to chairman Mark Walter. The Hall of Famer will spend time with the Dodgers this Spring Training at Camelback Ranch-Glendale, Arizona as well as a counselor during the season at Dodger Stadium.

Koufax had this to say about being back in Blue:

"“I’m delighted to be back with the Dodgers. I’m looking forward to spending time with the team during Spring Training and to contributing in any way I can to help make the team a success for the fans of Los Angeles. Some of my most cherished memories came at Dodger Stadium.”"

The celebrated southpaw’s experience is priceless. He was a World Champion with the Dodgers in 1955, 1959, 1963, and 1965. If the Dodgers are to make a run for the postseason in 2013, Koufax could most certainly lend his expertise when it comes to pitching in October. In postseason play, Sandy had a record of 4-3 with a miniscule ERA of 0.95.

Sandy Koufax watches Chris Capuano pitch when he was on the New York Mets. Photo: Noah K. Murray/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Koufax’s excellence cannot be fully detailed with mere numbers, but he not only was an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons, but he won the National League Cy Young Award three times unanimously, pitched four no-hitters, garnered the MVP Award, compiled three 25-win seasons, and had five ERA titles.

Pitchers who have been lucky enough to have Koufax counsel them have said that his simplistic approach when coaching is easy to follow and understand. He has been an occasional Special Training visitor for the Dodgers after Frank McCourt bought the team as well as with the New York Mets at times.

Bringing Sandy Koufax is yet another move by the ownership to bring back the critical pieces of the Dodger legacy back into place in hopes of a World Championship berth. Koufax is a beloved figure in Dodger history to former and current players as well as fans alike.

The Dodgers will have eight starting pitchers attending Spring Training next month. I’m sure each one will savor Sandy’s words of wisdom.