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Donald Scott Drysdale
Los Angeles Dodgers
Pitcher
Born: July 23, 1936, Van Nuys, CA
Signed: Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent before 1954 season
Major League Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers 1956-1957; Los Angeles Dodgers 1958-1969
Died: July 3, 1993, Montreal, Canada (age 56)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1984
One of the most dominant pitchers of his era, Don Drysdale was the 1962 N.L. Cy Young Award winner, won World Series rings with the Dodgers in 1959, 1963 and 1965, and threw a then-record 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968. He was a nine-time N.L. All-Star. Drysdale won at least 15 games in 7 different seasons, culminating with his career-high 25 wins in 1962. He led the league in strikeouts three times and innings pitched twice. Not afraid to keep batters off the plate, Drysdale led the league in hit batters five times and his 154 hit batters over his career ranks 19th on the all-time list. His amazing run of 58 2/3 innings also came with a record six consecutive shutouts. Fellow Dodgers' pitcher Orel Hershiser broke the record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988. For his career, Drysdale was 209-166 with a 2.95 ERA and 2,486 strikeouts. A decent hitter too, he was a career .186 batter with 29 home runs and 113 RBIs.
While playing, Drysdale was a guest star on several television shows, appearing on The Rifleman, Leave It to Beaver and The Brady Bunch, among other shows. Following his retirement due in part to a chronically sore shoulder, Drysdale began a lengthy broadcasting career. He worked with the Expos (1970-1971), Rangers (1972), Angels (1973-1979, 1981), White Sox (1982-1987) and Dodgers (1988-1993), while also broadcasting games nationally for NBC and ABC. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984, the same year the Dodgers retired his #53. Drysdale passed away in 1993 after a heart attack suffered on the road before a Dodgers-Expos game.
Building the Set
February 22, 2021 from Wenonah, NJ - Card #238
I purchased five cards from Gar Miller and his online store back in December, and on a dreary February afternoon I decided to head back to his website to look specifically for series two semi-stars. I added this Drysdale card for a reasonable $25, along with three other cards. He doesn't need my endorsement, but I can't recommend Gar Miller's online store enough. There are no pictures of the cards, but the website is well-organized, his grading is conservative and the prices are more than reasonable.
The Card / Dodgers Team Set
Drysdale was an established and popular All-Star, as well as a two-time World Series winner when this card was issued. His seven home runs hit in 1958 are highlighted on the back, and he'd tie that mark with seven home runs in 1965. Drysdale topped the 200-strikeout plateau six times in his career, including 1964 when he struck out 237. The text on the back of this card should be considered an uncorrected error, as Drysdale actually finished third in the Majors (#12) behind Bob Veale (#195) with 250 and Bob Gibson (#320) with 245.
February 22, 2021 from Wenonah, NJ - Card #238
I purchased five cards from Gar Miller and his online store back in December, and on a dreary February afternoon I decided to head back to his website to look specifically for series two semi-stars. I added this Drysdale card for a reasonable $25, along with three other cards. He doesn't need my endorsement, but I can't recommend Gar Miller's online store enough. There are no pictures of the cards, but the website is well-organized, his grading is conservative and the prices are more than reasonable.
The Card / Dodgers Team Set
Drysdale was an established and popular All-Star, as well as a two-time World Series winner when this card was issued. His seven home runs hit in 1958 are highlighted on the back, and he'd tie that mark with seven home runs in 1965. Drysdale topped the 200-strikeout plateau six times in his career, including 1964 when he struck out 237. The text on the back of this card should be considered an uncorrected error, as Drysdale actually finished third in the Majors (#12) behind Bob Veale (#195) with 250 and Bob Gibson (#320) with 245.
Drysdale, at card #15, is one of 72 players featured within the 1965 Topps Embossed insert set and one of four Dodgers in the set. He's also in the harder to find 1965 Topps Transfers insert set.
1965 Season
With Sandy Koufax (#300) and Drysdale at the top of their pitching rotation, the 1965 Dodgers won 97 games and eventually defeated the Twins in the World Series. Drysdale made one more start than Koufax with 42 to Koufax's 41. Drysdale went 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA over 308 1/3 innings pitched while striking out 210. He led the league with 12 hit batters.
1965 Season
With Sandy Koufax (#300) and Drysdale at the top of their pitching rotation, the 1965 Dodgers won 97 games and eventually defeated the Twins in the World Series. Drysdale made one more start than Koufax with 42 to Koufax's 41. Drysdale went 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA over 308 1/3 innings pitched while striking out 210. He led the league with 12 hit batters.
In the World Series, he started Game 1 when Koufax declined to pitch due to the Yom Kippur holiday. Drysdale was shelled by the Twins, giving up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. He'd win Game 4 however, throwing a complete game and striking out 11. The Dodgers would defeat the Twins in seven games.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1957 Topps #18
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13): 1957-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps Throwback Thursday #24
576 - Drysdale non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/23/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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First Mainstream Card: 1957 Topps #18
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13): 1957-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps Throwback Thursday #24
576 - Drysdale non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/23/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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