After five less than stellar summers with the Dodgers, Sandy Koufax had enough of baseball. Though the Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, Koufax had suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series and his 1960 season ended with an 8-13 record. Koufax had invested in an electronics business and made the decision to quit the game and begin a new career. After the 1960 season ended, Koufax left the Coliseum never intending to return. Sometime during the winter, the lefty had a change of heart. He worked out harder than ever before and when spring rolled around he’d decided to give baseball another chance. The rest, as they say, is history. Over the next 6 seasons Koufax went 129-47, won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP Award, and made six consecutive All-Star teams. He is also one of a handful of pitchers to hurl a perfect game.

Any game used item from Sandy Koufax is special, but this glove is extraordinary for it not only dates to the most pivotal part of his career, but can be undisputed photo matched to being used in the 1959-60 seasons. What’s even more incredible is that it has a rock-solid provenance.

Early in the 1960 season, former Brooklyn resident and die-hard Dodger fan Don Rossano and his father attended a game at the LA Coliseum as guests of their cousin, Dodgers infielder Bobby Aspromonte. While chatting in the dugout with Sandy Koufax, the lefty learned from Don’s dad that 14 year-old Don, now sitting up in the stands, was a left-handed pitcher as well. As his father got up to rejoin his son in the stands, Koufax held out his glove and said “here, give this to your son”. Don kept the glove for over 50 years and now we are proud to be able to offer this great piece of baseball history.

The Rawlings XPG3 pitcher’s glove shows good and even game use. The tan horsehide leather is still supple and has aged to a beautiful warm brown. Koufax’s soon to be famous “32” is hand-written in black marker on the base of the thumb. The inside heel shows much wear from friction, parts of the edge trim has cracked and the Rawlings label has been removed from the wrist strap. None of this distracts from the attractiveness of this important glove; it looks almost as if it was handed to Don Rossano yesterday.

The 1959 season was an important year for the Dodger organization as they won their first ever Los Angeles-based World Series as Koufax pitched nine innings while giving up only one earned run. Interestingly, in 1959 and 1960, Koufax was using a Herb Score model glove - the Hall of Famer never had a special endorsed model glove bearing his name. Included is a 16” x 20” print of Koufax using this very glove. The same hand-written “32” is readily apparent on the glove and PSA/DNA used this photo to accurately date and attribute the glove. Letter from Don Rossano describing the provenance of the glove is included. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.

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