Sandy Koufax — one of the best pitchers in baseball history — is actually best known by many for not pitching. It was 60 years ago that Koufax, a Jew, sat out Game 1 of the World Series because it was Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
In his place, the Dodgers started another future hall of famer Don Drysdale, who got hammered by the Minnesota Twins. When legendary Dodgers’ manager Walter Alston walked to the mound to remove Drysdale, he humorously said to Alston: “I bet right now you wish I was Jewish, too.”
The Dodgers would go on to win the World Series in seven games with Koufax earning the MVP. Even by Koufax standards, he was unbelievable, as he pitched shut outs in Games 5 and 7.
But six decades later, few remember who won the World Series or that Koufax was MVP. Instead, almost everyone — baseball fan and non-baseball fan alike — only remembers Koufax for what he didn’t do: pitch. They remember his character, not his pitching prowess, which is his long-lasting legacy and lesson.
What Koufax did was remarkable on many levels, but perhaps most remarkable was that he was not particularly religious. In fact, according to his biographer, he did not even attend synagogue the day he sat out the game but instead stayed quietly in his hotel room.
To me, that makes him more heroic and noble. He understood the moment was bigger than him. He understood he had a higher, greater calling for all people, not just for Jews. He understood he could forever change lives by not pitching.
His unstated message was simple: Some things are non-negotiable.
The funny thing is I actually grew up hating Sandy Koufax, because I had to miss Little League games that conflicted with Hebrew school. I can still hear my father’s voice today: “If Sandy Koufax can miss Game 1 of the World Series because he’s Jewish, you can miss a Little League game.”
Thanks for nothing, Sandy Koufax. Joking aside, Koufax’s message endures.
William Choslovsky, Sheffield Neighbors
Stand up to fascism
Publishing pictures of quiet, calm streets and neighborhoods would not usually be newsworthy for a city newspaper, but in light of the Trump administration’s baseless assertions that Chicago is a “hellhole” and “they’re coming after you,” it is imperative that mainstream media, independent journalists and others refute the lies by documenting the peaceful normalcy of the vast majority of our beautiful city.
I call on all Republicans — residents, lawmakers and donors in Chicago and across the nation — to push back against the falsities and overreach of the Trump administration. This is no longer a policy fight; it is a fight between right and wrong, between the rule of law and the tyranny of a wannabe dictator.
Would you like to be the next person dragged from your bed because your skin is the “wrong” color, you are a bystander at a peaceful protest, your home is on the “wrong” side of the city or you have the temerity to disagree with the president or Stephen Miller? Do we really want to live in a country like that?
The Trump administration’s actions are fascism, and we all need to accurately describe it and speak out against it. If the administration can send the National Guard to Chicago because of baseless lies — not independently corroborated or reported on by any reputable news service — then law and order, justice and our civil rights are meaningless.
Shame on the Trump administration and on anyone still supporting it. At this moment in history, you can be an American patriot who believes in independently verifiable truth and the rule of law, or you can be a Trump fascist. You can’t be both.
Heather La Riviere, Hyde Park
Unprecedented times
I recently celebrated my 90th birthday. I have lived through the Great Depression, wars, the Atomic Age, the first man on the moon, presidential assassinations, and the civil and gay rights movements.
Never have I seen a time like the one in which we are living in now. Masked federal officials breaking down doors in early morning hours and snatching people off the streets based on their appearance, a president who states publicly that he embraces hate (“I hate my opponents“) and a Congress so at odds with one another that nothing gets done. The government stalls to a halt. We are indeed living in a topsy-turvy world.
Philip S. Witt, Northbrook
Sun-Times is essential at this moment
Thank you to the Sun-Times for the daily updates on the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents in the Chicago area, especially at the Broadview facility. You have become the No. 1 source of truthful information about what the Trump administration is doing here. Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson recently said it is “making war” and the “Department of Homeland Security is running a disinformation campaign that would make even the Russians blush.” Keep up the good work and stay safe.
John Regan, Lemont
More need to emulate Goodall, Pope Leo
The late conservationist and United Nations Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall urged: “You’re supposed to share the planet, and yet species are disappearing. Ecosystems are collapsing. That’s going to affect us.”
More recently, Pope Leo XIV also implored: “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures. Nor can we call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ without participating in his outlook on creation and his care for all that is fragile and wounded.”
Both share a reverence for life, environmental stewardship, the interconnectedness of all creation, impacts of climate change and the dignity of every being.
Goodall’s worldview was centered on empathy as she insisted that humans recognize and honor the emotions and uniqueness of animals. Likewise, Pope Leo, following in the footsteps of Pope Francis, calls for compassion, a rejection of hierarchy in love and solidarity with the marginalized, echoing a universal ethic of kindness.
May we honor their examples by working together to create a more compassionate and life-sustaining world.
Terry Hansen, Milwaukee
Illinois’ car insurance system runs fine
Illinois boasts a robust marketplace where consumers have many choices when selecting insurance coverage that fits their needs and budgets. It’s the result of sound regulatory policy that respects actuarial science and allows insurers to price risk accurately. Radical changes to this policy risk devastating consequences for Illinoisans.
Consider California, where regulators use of their authority to suppress premiums artificially and the threat of wildfires have caused insurers to flee the Golden State, leaving many Californians unable to find coverage in the private market. It’s a cautionary tale of how overregulation can backfire, hurting the very consumers it aims to protect.
Unfortunately, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office is promoting policies that mirror California’s failed approach. If enacted, these measures will lead to higher premiums and fewer choices for Illinois residents, dismantling one of the most competitive and consumer-friendly insurance markets in the country and importing California’s failed system in its place.
The push to ban credit-based insurance scores is especially troubling. Extensive research shows using good credit as an underwriting factor benefits consumers, saving them between 30% and 59% on their car insurance. When Washington state banned credit scoring in 2021, more than 60% of drivers saw their premiums rise. If Illinois follows suit, we can expect similar consequences, with women and seniors among the hardest hit.
Inflation is already straining household budgets. Eliminating proven underwriting tools like credit, ZIP code and age will only make matters worse. These factors help insurers assess risk accurately and offer fair, tailored pricing. Stripping them away will lead to broad rate hikes, penalizing responsible drivers.
Let’s be clear: Recent premium increases in Illinois are not the result of unfair pricing practices. They reflect real economic pressures, stemming from rising costs for auto parts, labor and an uptick in risky driving behaviors. Even so, Illinois car insurance costs remain below the national average.
There’s no mystery behind rising insurance costs. The data is available — just check the Consumer Price Index or visit industry resources like iii.org. Insurance pricing reflects reality: economic conditions, supply chain disruptions and individual behaviors.
The secretary of state should resist the temptation to chase headlines with policies that ignore economic fundamentals. The best way to keep insurance affordable is to preserve Illinois’ competitive marketplace. Let’s not repeat California’s mistakes. Let’s protect Illinois consumers with policies grounded in data, not demagoguery.
Kevin Martin, executive director, Illinois Insurance Association, Springfield
Keep focus on medical cannabis patients
We are writing in reply to an excellent, unbiased summarization of the deficiencies of the Illinois cannabis industry in an August op-ed headlined “Industry built for medical cannabis patients leaving them behind.”
The article reminded us of a favorite song of ours by Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” as it applies to our experiences.
Our daughter Ashley has depended on the state’s medical cannabis program for nearly eight years. She is seizure-free now for almost eight years and has experienced many other health benefits.
We were able to pass “Ashley’s Law” back in 2018, allowing medical cannabis in schools, school buses and during after-school activities.
It’s been incredible learning about the many medical cannabis success stories like our familiy’s. What’s not incredible is patients are ultimately being forgotten, as the op-ed pointed out.
Since recreational cannabis became legal, the medical inventory, training, access, research and education for medical marijuana have suffered.
Seizures and illnesses don’t take a break, so we respectfully urge our state legislators to hear us and work on the long overdue, needed legislation this fall.
Every dispensary should accept medical cards and enhance staff training. Doctors, dispensaries, schools, libraries, municipalities, and fire and police departments should undergo educational training. And universities should keep studying cannabis’ risks and benefits.
We also need insurance to offset the financial burden and recognize cannabis as a therapy. Financially struggling families should also be helped through grants, if possible.
“Prioritize the patients again,” as the authors of the op-ed urged.
Ashley, Maureen and Jim Surin, Schaumburg
Appreciation for nurses
It takes a special person to be an emergency department nurse.
They blend a unique balance of heartfelt compassion, clinical expertise and tremendous instincts to care for their patients on their darkest days. They also epitomize quiet resiliency and strength while acting as advocates who navigate the challenges and unpredictability of emergency departments that serve as the health care safety net in their communities.
Throughout my experience in emergency nursing and the Emergency Nurses Association, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with so many of these special people who not only diligently serve at the stretcher side but also as flight nurses, educators, hospital leaders and researchers.
What I’ve learned in two decades is continually inspiring because emergency department nurses have had unique and riveting stories about their journeys.
I love presenting at student nursing events and sharing in the excitement of young people ready to dive into this rewarding, humbling and amazing profession and want to do it as part of the emergency nursing specialty.
As Emergency Nurses Week comes to a close this weekend, I want to offer my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the global emergency nursing community members for their countless contributions.
You not only care for the sick and physically hurt, you educate the public about illness and injury prevention, conduct research that leads to better patient outcomes and teach students who will be future nurses.
I encourage everyone to thank an emergency department nurse for all she and he do to make communities healthier and safer.
Ryan Oglesby, president, Emergency Nurses Association