why did sandy koufax retire

Sandy Koufax retired at the age of 30 due to chronic arthritis and severe pain in his pitching elbow. The damage was so serious that everyday tasks like combing his hair or shaving became painful. He feared that continuing to pitch would result in permanent disability or worsen his health significantly. Despite being in the peak of his career, Koufax chose to retire to preserve the full use of his arm and his quality of life after baseball. He also was concerned about the risks from medications he had to take to manage the pain, which could have long-term harmful effects on his health.