Sandy Koufax Has Heard Someone Shout "Baba Booey"

Scores of fans descend upon Cooperstown, New York every summer for a weekend to celebrate the induction of the latest class into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to the Hall of Fame’s museum, memorabilia shops, and the resplendent natural beauty of Lake Otsego, baseball enthusiasts (or cranks as they were called in the early days of the sport’s history) can marvel at the legends of the game in the flesh. Past inductees show up for a parade and to welcome their fellow players as they are enshrined in the Hall.

I myself attended this year’s ceremony along with my father. It was a bucket list item for both of us, and in 2025 the honorees included figures of interest or admiration to us, such as C.C Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, and the voice of Cleveland baseball for over 30 years, Tom Hamilton. After waiting through some light rainfall and playing catch with some spirited youths, we settled into our folding chairs as they trotted out 52 of the 77 living members of the Hall of Fame to start the ceremony.

My mouth went slightly agape as the Master of Ceremonies announced Sandy Koufax, and then the man himself strode across the dais to his seat. This was partly out of surprise that he was still alive (and seemingly sharp and spry to boot!) but mostly out of awe at being in the presence of such a legend. The sole surviving member of the 1955 World Series champion Brooklyn Dodgers, Koufax is one of the few names you could come up with as a consensus pick for the greatest pitcher of all time. The achievements and distinctions are many: 3 time Cy Young Award winner (winning unanimously each time), 7 time All Star, 4 time World Series Champion, 2 time World Series MVP, 3 time Triple Crown Winner, he pitched 4 no hitters and a perfect game. At 89 years old, he still carries himself with a dignity and grace that lends gravitas to the event put on by this august institution.

During a pause in the proceedings, the crowd rapt and attentive, someone on the other side of the crowd bellowed out “Baba Boooooeeeeey” in reference to the producer of the Howard Stern Show. Dropping a “Baba Booey” is a relatively harmless prank that Stern fans would pull, though the heyday of this phenomenon was solidly in the 90s. Prominent examples include freestyle wrestler Jake Herbert yelling it during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics and caller “Maury from Brooklyn” signing off with “and Baba Booey to y’all” when he called in to ABC News during their live coverage of the OJ Simpson white Bronco chase.

Knowing that Sandy Koufax has heard someone yell Baba Booey tickles me, particularly because these anachronistic vestiges of the 20th century existing side by side seems so odd. It almost doesn’t compute that these two things would be together; like how Elvis was a big fan of Monty Python. Or its like the inverse of the theory that John F. Kennedy likely never heard The Beatles.

Randy Johnson was also present at this event, and he (particularly in his prime) looked like someone who has, in fact, shouted Baba Booey in a quiet moment.