Add a new baseball book to your collection from the SABR Digital Library: Sandy Koufax, edited by Marc Z. Aaron, Bill Nowlin, and Glen Sparks. This collection explores what made the Los Angeles Dodger legend so special in baseball and American society through 17 insightful essays and recaps of 36 key games in his career.

Touching on subjects from Koufax’s potential basketball career, his relationship with manager Walt Alston, celebrity culture in LA, and his effect on the hurlers who came after him, to analyses of Koufax’s stats and records, Sandy Koufax takes a deep dive into one of baseball’s true greats.

I made a pitch to contribute a game recap against the Phillies on the day I turned one year and one day old, May 26, 1962. That Saturday afternoon, Dodgers fans enjoyed watching the future Hall of Famer on the mound, and surprisingly at the plate, too.

I had fun researching this game and returning to an era of baseball without pitch counts and phantom base runners. The game story drew me in to a true team effort featuring famous and not-so-famous players. I also tip my cap to this team of editors, who kept me in the batter’s box until we verified every detail.

Even if you’re not a member of SABR, you may pick up this book from Amazon: