1955 Topps Sandy Koufax ROOKIE #123 PSA 8 NM-MT

Between 1962-66, Koufax led the league in ERA each year, posting an absurd 2.54, 1.88, 1.74, 2.04, and 1.73, and led the league in strikeouts three of those years. In his era, only Bob Gibson achieved such remarkable numbers. Nolan Ryan, another strikeout pitcher, had a 3.19 career ERA for perspective. Koufax finished with a 2.77. But Koufax’s star shined brightest in the game's biggest moments. He won pennant-clinching games in the 1965 and 1966 seasons and pitched an unthinkable 0.95 ERA in eight World Series games. Few players in MLB history have achieved Koufax's success when a game mattered most. And Koufax pitched four no-hitters in only nine full seasons and recorded 382 strikeouts in a season (only Nolan Ryan has more in the modern era with 383). Only an early retirement from an injured arm prevented him from leading all-time lists, but the brevity of his career does not diminish it. Legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully explained his career best when he said, “You only get one Sandy Koufax in a lifetime.” Almost as rare as Koufax is his rookie card with sharp corners, a stunning surface, and well-preserved color. This month’s Premier Auction presents a fantastic opportunity to pick up the legendary lefty’s ‘55 Topps rookie in sparkling condition. Of the 10,500-plus non-Qualified examples assessed by PSA, only .4% have earned a higher grade than this PSA 8. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 11/05/24.