The Koufax-Drysdale Holdout
Show Notes & Featured Audio
February 28, 1966 – The Koufax-Drysdale Holdout
On this day in 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers aces Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale refused to report to spring training, launching a historic joint holdout. The duo demanded a three-year, $1 million contract to be split evenly, which would have made them the highest-paid players in baseball—eclipsing Willie Mays’ $125,000 salary with the Giants.
Koufax remained bitter over the previous year’s contract negotiations, believing that the Dodgers had leaked false salary demands to the press in an attempt to turn the fan base against him. He also felt the team was pitting him against Drysdale, as Dodgers GM Buzzie Bavasi had publicly stated that Drysdale, who won more games in 1965, was asking for less money than Koufax ahead of the ’66 season.
At dinner one night, Drysdale confided that the same tactic was being used on him. His wife, Ginger Drysdale, suggested that they join forces. The two agreed and enlisted the same agent, J. William Hayes, to negotiate on their behalf.
The Holdout Begins
As the stalemate dragged on, Koufax and Drysdale held firm, skipping spring training entirely. To hedge their bets, both players signed contracts to appear in the movie Warning Shot, starring David Janssen, in case their absence extended into the season. Koufax also agreed to co-write his autobiography, Koufax, with journalist Ed Linn, something he only pursued as a financial safety net.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers launched a public relations offensive against their star pitchers, framing them as greedy and ungrateful. As a result, press coverage overwhelmingly favored the team ownership. Koufax later reflected in his book:
“It was astonishing to me to learn that there were a remarkably large number of American citizens who truly did not believe we had the moral right to quit rather than work at a salary we felt—rightly or wrongly—to be less than we deserved… Just take what the nice man wants to give you, get into your uniform, and go a fast 25 laps around the field.”
In stark contrast to the team’s public campaign, both players refused to engage with the media or escalate tensions. Drysdale later wrote in his autobiography that they agreed to “add no fuel to the fire whatsoever.”
A Threat to Baseball’s Power Structure
Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley made it clear that he would not negotiate with the players as a unit, recognizing the larger implications of their stand. He stated:
“I admire the boys’ strategy, and we can’t do without them, even for a little while. But we can’t give in to them. There are too many agents hanging around Hollywood looking for clients. If two players can do this, what stops an entire team from negotiating collectively?”
Other owners viewed the holdout as a direct challenge to their dominance over contract negotiations. Behind closed doors, there were concerns that Koufax and Drysdale had set a dangerous precedent for player unity.
March 30 – The Deal is Done
After a month-long standoff, actor Chuck Connors helped arrange a meeting between Bavasi, Drysdale, and Koufax. A deal was finally reached:
Koufax signed for $130,000, making him the highest-paid player in baseball.
Drysdale signed for $105,000.
Bavasi later reflected on the outcome:
“To tell the truth, I wasn’t too successful in the famous Koufax-Drysdale double holdout. When the smoke cleared, they stood together on the battlefield with $235,000 between them, and I stood there with a blood-stained cashbox. They had a gimmick, and it worked… But be sure to stick around for the fun the next time somebody tries that gimmick. I don’t care if the whole infield comes in as a package—next year, they’ll be wondering what they’re doing playing for the Nankai Hawks.”
The Aftermath
The owners took no chances moving forward. In the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), they inserted language to prevent collusion, fearing that more players would take the same approach as Koufax and Drysdale. Ironically, this clause later cost the owners billions of dollars in legal rulings after they were repeatedly caught colluding against free agents.
Since 1966, no two players have ever colluded in contract negotiations—a testament to the lasting impact of the Koufax-Drysdale holdout.
Enjoy the podcast with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale!