Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax’s decision to sit out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins on Yom Kippur is a defining moment in Jewish-American history. But did you know that this same baseball icon once faced off against a talking horse? Yes, Koufax gave up a home run to Mr. Ed.
Let’s dive into both of these legendary moments, starting with one that has sparked decades of fascination.
The Yom Kippur mystery
In 1965, when Koufax famously declined to pitch Game 1, he became more than a sports hero—he became a symbol of Jewish pride. While many are familiar with Koufax’s decision, fewer have asked the question: Where exactly did Koufax spend Yom Kippur that year?
Despite Koufax’s high-profile absence from the game, his exact whereabouts on the holiday remained a mystery—until now.
According to Jacob Gurvis, a reporter for JTA, Koufax attended services that morning at Temple of Aaron in St. Paul, Minn. Gurvis spoke to Daniel Schloff, who was 17 at the time, and claims he sat behind Koufax in the sanctuary and even exchanged holiday greetings with him.
“Everyone’s there for services, and the whole time I’m staring at the back of his bald head, davening, and thinking, huh, here’s Sandy Koufax,” Schloff said. “My God, here’s Sandy Koufax.”
There are aspects of Schloff’s account that raise eyebrows—after all, Koufax wasn’t bald at the time, and no other eyewitnesses have corroborated the story. However, Gurvis also spoke with Rabbi Bernard Raskas, who led Temple of Aaron at the time. Raskas insisted Koufax was there. In a sermon later that year, Raskas referred to the fact that Koufax “was in this very synagogue on Yom Kippur Day.”
Still, the mystery persists, reports Gurvis.
“Rabbi Jeremy Fine, a former rabbi of Temple of Aaron and an avid sports fan, summarized the uncertainty, telling Gurvis, ‘Unless Sandy says he was there, to me, it’s midrash. Midrash becomes folklore that’s a part of our story.’”
What remains clear is that Koufax’s decision not to play was personal and deeply rooted in his faith—a moment that transcended sports and resonated with Jewish people around the world.
The Mr. Ed curveball – As uncovered by Benjamin Hochman
As serious as Koufax’s Yom Kippur stand was, his career wasn’t without its lighter moments. Thanks to St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Benjamin Hochman, we know about one of Koufax’s most unusual appearances: on the 1960s sitcom “Mr. Ed.”
During a Yom Kippur discussion at Central Reform Congregation, Hochman shared a surprising tidbit he learned from his father, Jere Hochman, that left many in the audience in disbelief: Koufax once allowed an inside-the-park home run to a horse. Yes, you read that correctly.
In 1963, “Mr. Ed,” the famous talking horse, took to the diamond at Dodger Stadium during the fourth-season premiere, “Mr. Ed Meets Leo Durocher.” According to Hochman, Koufax was one of several Dodgers who appeared in the episode. But the highlight? Mr. Ed, with a little Hollywood magic, hit a home run off one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
This quirky TV moment may sound like a joke, but it’s real, as confirmed by Molly Fitzpatrick at MLB.com. In the episode, Mr. Ed not only dispenses batting advice to the Dodgers but also steps up to the plate, taking a pitch from Koufax and hitting one out of the park—thanks to some off-screen tricks.
While far less significant than Koufax’s Yom Kippur decision, this offbeat moment adds a delightful chapter to his storied career, showing the lighter side of a man known for his competitive fire.
