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The media, labor relations, and religious bigotry are just a few of the topics she blends into the tale... Through hundreds of discussions with players, managers, fans, and fellow sportswriters, Leavy pieces together the story of the handsome, articulate, complex, reticent, Brooklyn-born southpaw who conquered baseball and the sports world at large."
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described the book as "compelling", writing: "As the national pastime, baseball has always been a sociocultural barometer of the
American experience. Washington Post sportswriter Jane Leavy understands the intricacies of this truism, and it's one reason why her biography of Koufax is so compelling.
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Though he did not sit down for an interview with her, Koufax allowed her to talk to his friends and old teammates, who would not have otherwise sat down for an interview, and also agreed to verify biographical facts. The only people he requested she not talk to were the children of his sister, a
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praised the book for debunking myths about Koufax's supposed isolation: "It's... nice to know that contrary to so many reports, including a magazine cover story a couple of years ago that labeled him "the incomparable and mysterious Sandy Koufax," he is not and has never been a recluse."
202:, the advant of television in sports, and the labor movement in baseball. Though she did not discuss Koufax's private life in detail, she wrote about his personality and his aversion from his own celebrity and reasons for his want of privacy. She also wrote of Koufax's relationship with
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praised the book: "Leavy has hit it out of the park... A lot more than a biography. It's a consideration of how we create our heroes, and how this hero's self perception distinguishes him from nearly every other great athlete in living memory... a remarkably rich portrait."
256:(SABR) later named it one of its top 50 best baseball books during its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021, writing: "Until Dandy Sandy decides to finally write his own life story, this biography will be the standard other books will try to live up to."
183:, intially was not expecting to write to the book on Koufax who known for turning down interview requests and prefered not to be written about at all. After hearing her out and agreeing to meet her at
221:. She found rare footage of the first three innings of the game, taken by Dodgers trainer Bill Buehler. Additionally, she received a copy of the near complete recording of the game from
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as he would "feel foolish to be associated with or promote one entity if it helps another." He reconnected with the organization in 2004, when the
Dodgers were sold to
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332:, Koufax decided to cut ties with the team for the remainder of Murdoch's ownership tenure, stating that he did not want to help promote any of the News Corp's
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The book's purpose, according to Leavy, was to document Koufax's career in light of the social changes that took place, including the
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published a false story about Koufax and the biography, insinuating that he only agreed to cooperate because Leavy threatened to
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retracted the story and apologized after Leavy denied there was such a deal, calling it "thoroughly erroneous on all counts."
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Upon its release, the book was widely praised for its writing and prose and became a
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request Leavy honored. She ended up interviewing over 400 people for the book.
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In
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400:"Conversation: 'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy'"
594:"Koufax Ends Boycott, but He's Only Visiting"
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573:"He Has Risen Above the Greatest of Sleaze"
252:as the best baseball book of the year. The
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552:"Newspaper Retracts Koufax Gossip Item"
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16:Biography of Sandy Koufax by Jane Leavy
540:. Associated Press. February 21, 2003.
489:Trachtenberg, Jay (November 8, 2002).
455:Society for American Baseball Research
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141:is a non-fiction book by sportswriter
616:Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy (P.S.)
468:Okrent, Daniel (September 30, 2002).
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348:A second edition of the book, titled
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571:Penner, Mike (February 22, 2003).
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214:with made him into a Jewish icon.
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510:Barra, Allen (October 13, 2002).
429:Leavy, Jane (September 1, 2002).
378:Leavy, Jane (September 3, 2002).
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244:. It was nominated for both the
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491:"Book Review: A Lefty's Legacy"
451:"SABR 50 at 50: Baseball Books"
22:Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy
470:"Books: A Prince of a Pitcher"
380:"In General, a Private Koufax"
320:As both the newspaper and the
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592:Reid, Jason (March 6, 2004).
512:"Artful Dodger, Damn Yankee"
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169:on September 9, 1965.
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560:. February 22, 2003.
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265:magazine,
227:Retrosheet
212:Yom Kippur
185:Dodgertown
173:Background
143:Jane Leavy
43:Jane Leavy
414:March 16,
330:News Corp
88:Publisher
74:Biography
408:Archived
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