LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax famously refused to take the mound on the first day of the World Series in 1965; it was Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. He was the best pitcher in the world at the time, and the announcement caused headlines and controversy. Even though he was not particularly observant, the decision made him a hero to Jewish Americans—he chose to honor his faith and his culture instead of quietly assimilating.

He pitched the next game, the Dodgers won the series, and Koufax was named MVP.