Sandy Koufax won his final game at UC 61 years ago today

Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax won his final game for UC on this date 61 years ago today - May 14, 1954 - as the Bearcats defeated Lockbourne AFB 8-5 at UC.

Koufax, a legendary Dodgers pitcher, was 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA with the Bearcats in the spring of 1954. He led the staff with 51 strikeouts in 32 innings. His uniform number at UC remains a mystery.

The scout report card from May 15, 1954 on "Sanford Koufax" noted an A-plus for his arm and said he was a very good prospect. "Tall, muscular, quick reflexes, well-coordinated," the late scout Bill Zinser noted.

His only collegiate loss was to Xavier on May 17, 1954.

Koufax told The Enquirer in 2014 he didn't have a specific strategy on the mound at UC but to "just throw as hard and as long as you could."

UC had a 10-7 record in 1954 and The News Record that June 5 lauded coach Ed Jucker for leading the "best Bearcat baseball team in seven years" in his first year as the "diamond mentor."

Referred to as the "Cats' fire-balling freshman sensation" by The News Record on May 20, Koufax and his teammates played home games adjacent to Nippert Stadium on the southeast side (near the closed end of the stadium). The baseball field did not encroach on the football field, according to UC Archivist Kevin Grace.

Koufax, 79, signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers on Dec. 14, 1954. He was part of the 1955 World Series champion Dodgers team.

Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, won the earned-run average title five consecutive seasons from 1962-66 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Koufax had four no-hitters in four years, including a perfect game against the Cubs on Sept. 9, 1965 at Dodger Stadium. He struck out 382 in 1965 – setting a modern-day National League record for most strikeouts in a single season.

Koufax won the Cy Young Award in 1963, 1965 and 1966. He had a 0.95 ERA in four career World Series as the Dodgers won titles in 1959, 1963 and 1965.

Koufax remains the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was 36 when he was elected on Jan. 19, 1972.