In ‘65 he was the Dogers’ only hitter with a record of .300 and even tied his own record in his league in home runs. That’s pretty nifty, especially considering that he was indeed a pitcher. In that year he led his team to be world champions for the third time. Drysdale unfortunately had to quit his beloved sport early due to an injury. If he were able to continue on who knows if he would have made or broken a handful or two more records.

It seems that the Don Drysdale record knack for making or breaking interesting statistics was a familial trait. His wife was the first woman to join the NBA and to be a part of the national team for basketball. Even their marriage was a first; it was the first time that two hall of fame players from each of their sports of interest got married.

Even once off the field he couldn’t be kept away from his sport. After a few years away from the game he became a broadcaster and worked with the Dodgers, the Angels, the Expos, the White Sox and even the ABC television network.

Sometimes it seems as though the players of the past were more fun to watch, more enjoyable to learn about and just produced and overall atmosphere that was generally more wholesome and good than what’s available to be watched or heard today. Perhaps it is because of the current problem with drug abuse in the league or maybe it’s generational, each group of fans, either of now or of before, like to think of the good old days.

Drysdale was the host of Radio Baseball cards, a nationally syndicated radio show. Of the more than 160 episodes produced the ones that were most memorable, and there were a lot of them, featured memories of Jackie Robinson. Stories or anecdotes told by those who knew him, played with him, played against him or just loved him for the great player he was.

“The trick against Drysdale is to hit him before he hits you.” Drysdale may have been a nightmare to stare down at the mound but for those who had the opportunity to be hit or struck out by him, those who were able to play a game with or against him, can say that they were a part of what he accomplished. Will any of the players in the game today, breaking crappy maple bats as they swing with juiced up forearms bulging, be regarded with as much appreciation as Drysdale was and is? On va voir.