The first of many

Sandy Koufax 69 years ago today after his first victory in the majors

Sandy Koufax, then a 19-year-old rookie armed with a blazing fastball but with sporadically brilliant command of the strike zone, earns his first major league victory 69 years ago today.

He allows only two hits while striking out 14 and walking five in Brooklyn's 7-0 victory over Cincinnati before a Saturday afternoon crowd of 7,204 at Ebbets Field.

Only 61 percent of Koufax’s 135 pitches are strikes with the Reds swinging and missing on just 11 of those pitches with plate umpire Frank Secory calling 33 of Koufax’s pitches for strikes.

Koufax wins another 164 games over the next 11-plus seasons for the Dodgers with 97 of those victories coming in his final four seasons of his first-ballot, Hall of Fame career.

Koufax is one of six future Hall of Famers in Brooklyn’s lineup 69 years ago today against the Reds – joining Jackie Robinson, who is playing third base for this game; shortstop Pee Wee Reese; first baseman Gil Hodges; center fielder Duke Snider and catcher Roy Campanella.

The only hits Koufax gives up come with two outs on a first-inning single by Ted Kluszewski and a ninth-inning double by Sam Mele.