sanford koufax (born sanford braun; december 30, 1935) is an american former baseball player. he was a left-handed pitcher. he played 12 seasons in major league baseball (mlb) for the brooklyn/los angeles dodgers from 1955 to 1966. he was a seven-time all-star and four-time world series champion. in 1972, koufax, at age 36, became the youngest player ever to be added to the baseball hall of fame.