Don Jr., known as D.J., is 28 and works at an Internet company in Arizona; Darren is a 26-year-old college student; and daughter Drew is a 23-year-old UCLA history major interested in a music career. Drysdale was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984. She paused, apologizing for the one moment when her composure wavered. I talked to a lot of athletes for a story recently and invariably the first thing they would tell me was to have fun while you are playing. HOF: Im guessing with your size you played point guard? Largely forgotten was Drysdale the hitter: he hit seven home runs in 1958 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Dodgers' first home when they moved to Los Angeles. There were alternately tears and laughs, as approximately 900 people crammed the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, including some Dodger players who had arrived home from New York at 3:30 this morning. So when David and Kenny came home one weekend, Kenny said, Howd you like to go to UCLA? AMD: Absolutely, absolutely, without question. PIT 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER. In 1957, the Dodgers' final season in Brooklyn, Drysdale was the ace of the staff with a 17-9 record. Uecker said she agreed to go out to dinner with Drysdale, but only if her mother came along. Don "DJ" Drysdale Jr., MBA Team Loan Officer at VIP Mortgage Inc Scottsdale, AZ. AMD: The first time I went was in 1984 when Donnie was inducted, then I came again in 1993 after he had passed, and then came again in 1997 when Tommy (Lasorda) went in. I did the best job I could do and I gave it my all.. I said, Why would you want to teach an 8-year-old a curveball and hurt his arm? In this photo dated Aug. 2, 1993, Meyers Drysdale talks with Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who was in town for the annual Hall of Fame Game. Even Meyers grandfather played ball in the Chicago White Sox organization. 1? Drysdale kept the fans' interest with stories of his playing days.[12]. Even a veteran in this game needs a mentor, and I've lost truly the best. August 5, 1969 She is frequently in touch with colleges, seeking information. Most of Meyers family participated in sports, the best known of them Ann, brother Dave, a former UCLA basketball star who went on to the National Basketball Assn. I have to do it. Join this group of highly engaged supporters and enjoy exclusive experiences in Cooperstown and around the country. View Don Drysdale's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Meyers Drysdale said sorting through boxes of memorabilia brought "a lot of laughs, memories and tears." She said she believes her experience as an athlete has added to her resilience. In fact, the service had been delayed until today, so the team could attend. ", Informed of her stepdaughter's comments, Meyers said, "It's a family matter and I'll leave it at that.". TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. ", Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, Drysdale's former roommate at Triple-A Montreal, told of how he, not Drysdale, used to be mobbed for autographs in Canada. "He's a very talented man. AMD: Yes. "I just want to keep him alive as much as I can, for the kids too," Meyers said. He died on 3 July 1993 in Montral, Qubec, Canada. They were just all attracted to him. But the short time I knew Don he was just so positive and there were so many happy things. Is it true you two met at Superstars (a made-for-TV sports competition that had athletes from different sports competing in a number of events) in 1980? I hope that I can give back. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Meyers was a UCLA All-American and Olympic basketball star, and is in the. The lineage is in Donnies favor. HOF: Do you feel like you got a fair shot with the Pacers? I gave it my best shot, and, like Don says, many times the decision is in somebody elses hands. View More Videos. Don decorated the house by himself, Meyers says. "First of all, she thought he was Don Meredith," Uecker said. "That was the one thing that was proudly and prominently displayed in every house in which I ever lived," she said. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. The difference today is the emphasis on winning, Drysdale said. "Get his, too," Lasorda would say to the fans. Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. For son Donnie, or the next child--God willing, both say--these parents will be a tough act to follow. During Drysdale's 14-year baseball career, the fierce 6-foot-6 right-hander, nicknamed "Big D," compiled a 209-166 record with a career earned-run average of 2.95. . "A pitcher needs to pitch inside. LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 23: D.J. He meant so much to baseball. He amassed a career record of 209 victories and 167 losses. Kelly is Drysdales only child from his former marriage to Ginger Drysdale, which ended in divorce. ", "It wasn't an easy decision," she said by phone from her home in Phoenix. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. And thats kind of how it developed. Drysdale was a star pitcher from 1956 to 1969. He was a pitcher who batted and threw right handed. Don Jr., known as D.J., is 28 and works at an Internet company in Arizona; Darren is a 26-year-old college student; and daughter Drew is a 23-year-old UCLA history major interested in a music. The online auction runs through April 23. Many thanks to him. In his first start, he beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-1, striking out 9. Meyers was a UCLA All-American and Olympic basketball star, and is in the basketball Hall of Fame. Don Drysdale Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-5 , 190lb (196cm, 86kg) Born: July 23, 1936 in Van Nuys, CA us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame Cy Young 9x All-Star 3x World Series ML PoY 53 53 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. ), How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages. He was 56. Drysdale had apparently carried the tape with him wherever he went since Kennedy's murder. Drysdale, 53, grew up in Van Nuys, an only child. I had no idea what I would do after graduating from UCLA. Ann Meyers Drysdale attended Hall of Fame Weekend 1993 in Cooperstown to share memories following the passing of her husband, Don Drysdale, on July 3 of that year. In fact, there are plenty of trophies and memorabilia, reminders of the athletic prowess of each, in their sprawling, 4-bedroom home on the Morningside Golf Course. Or why did I get this award? Drysdale was a good hitting pitcher. He was known for being a Baseball Player. In 1984, Drysdale called play-by-play (alongside Reggie Jackson and Earl Weaver) for the National League Championship Series between the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs. The Dodger announcer Vin Scully said Drysdale, who had been broadcasting Dodgers games with him since 1988, had undergone an angioplasty -- a procedure for heart problems -- in recent years. Happy to help keep your streak of hot girls taking your picture alive." But then to work for the Phoenix Mercury and the Suns and win a couple of WNBA championships and be a part of three. They had asked me to move over after we had won a couple of WNBA championships, from GM, to kind of focus a little bit more on broadcasting and be out in the community a little bit more and speaking to season ticketholders and schools and so forth. vs. Hershiser, however, did not match Drysdale's record of six consecutive complete-game shutouts. "He touched so many people.". SUMMARY Career WAR 67.1 W 209 L 166 ERA 2.95 G 518 GS 465 SV 6 IP 3432.0 SO 2486 His 154 hit batsmen is a modern National League record. - BL-1361-68 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Don Drysdale was one of the most intimidating pitchers of his era, winning 209 games in 14 seasons with the Dodgers while helping his team win five National League pennants and three World Series titles. They are both used to leading, yet it seems to work. All rights reserved. "I never hit anybody in the head in my life," he recalled. Pitching for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, he teamed with Sandy Koufax during the late 1950s to middle 1960s to form one of the most dominating pitching duos in history. "It's not a very nice thing for someone to do. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. RFK Jr., who was just 14 when his dad was killed, said he reached the conclusion that a second gunman got away after visiting for three hours late last year with his father's convicted assassin. The latter record was broken by fellow Dodger Orel Hershiser 20 years later. She said the only baseball item she has is his 1959 World Series championship ring, which she received from her late grandparents, along with a necklace her father had made using a diamond from the ring. A right-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire career in Major League Baseball, Drysdale was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. When you wake up at three-thirty every morning, and you realize that some of your buddies are just getting in back home, it gives you a lot of discipline. . A right-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire career in Major League Baseball, Drysdale was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984 . As long as you give it your best, there is nothing more you can do. The first time with the kids as young adults was this past year because we know Joe Torre, we know Tony La Russa, we know a lot of those guys because they were good friends of Donnies. Unfortunately, parents, God bless them, are their own worst enemies. On November 1, 1986, he married basketball player Ann Meyers, who took the name Ann Meyers-Drysdale. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Shop >. Drysdale remarked, "Go get 'em, Dago!". . That just happens to be working out, too. us, Died: LOS ANGELES Darren Drysdale clutched his mother's ankles as if they were his favorite teddy bear. Drysdale age 23, right and Darren Drysdale age 21, left, sons of Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Dodger Don Drysdale, throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on July 23, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. - BL-1376-68 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) HOF: You must have heard about Don's reputation as a pitcher who would pitch inside, right? She has been turned down for other broadcasting jobs for various reasons--even told her hair is too short, or that her look is not quite right. Im sure he was put in a very difficult position. Just a typical Hollywood story. [1][2], One of the most dominant pitchers of the late 1950s to mid 1960s,[1] Drysdale stood 6ft 5in (1.96m) tall and was not afraid to throw pitches near batters to keep them off balance. Im not going to let them talk me out of it a second time. I thought it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Drysdale and Meyers had three children together: Don Junior ("DJ") (son), Darren (son), and Drew (daughter). On August 14, 1983, while broadcasting for the White Sox, Drysdale generated some controversy while covering a heated argument between an umpire and Sox manager Tony La Russa. And theres a picture of Meyers, the first women to carry the U.S. flag, at the 1978 Pan American games in Puerto Rico. There were no exceptions.[10]. "It's great to not only hear stories from fans but his old teammates. Drysdale's broadcasting colleague Vin Scully, who was instructed not to say anything on the air until Drysdale's family was notified, announced the news of his death by saying, "Never have I been asked to make an announcement that hurts me as much as this one. Kelly Drysdale told The Associated Press that Meyers Drysdale didn't inform the rest of the Drysdale family about the auction or first offer them any keepsakes. Both men sold their memorabilia, telling her it was a way to help their families while they are still alive. Ive been fortunate to be in broadcasting over 35 years, a career that I never thought I would embark on. HOF: Can you talk about your path that currently finds you working for both WNBAs Phoenix Mercury and the NBAs Phoenix Suns? Donald Drysdale Operations Manager at Disneyland Resort Jurupa Valley, CA Disneyland Resort California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, +1 more Don Drysdale Partner at Lee, Hong,. A collector's edition of the program was re-released in 2007 as a podcast.[16]. He passed away on July 3, 1993. . to do anything. Sounds like a movie script. 11,320th in major league history) Not that they couldnt use an agent--or even a secretary--because their phones never stop ringing. During a 2015 telephone interview from her home in Huntington Beach, Calif., Ann Meyers Drysdale, the 1993 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, talked about life both on and off the court. "Things aren't always rosy. Don Drysdale was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. [23] They were returned to his family in February 2002 and scattered the next year.[24][25]. He knew who I was because I was just coming off my tryout with the Pacers. Don Drysdale Jr., 6, walked into his father's memorial service this morning and right away found a familiar face: Sandy Koufax. It has always been dominated by the male and you can see their energy in how they compete. "You can have all the awards in the world, all the money and all the recognition and experiences. Sports is a base for what your life is all about, because once you get out of competing in sports, you have to learn how to get along with workers, your boss. Ann Meyers Drysdale talks with Hall of Famer Duke Snider, a teammate of her husband Don Drysdale with the Dodgers, during Hall of Fame Weekend 1993 in Cooperstown. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info AMD: The one thing I always remember when I first met Don is that he was such a gentleman. Don Drysdale holds baseballs commemorating his record of 58 2/3rds scoreless innings streak in 1968. "[21] Fellow broadcaster Ross Porter told his radio audience, "I just don't believe it, folks. Why waste four pitches when one will do? He knew who she was--a 4-year All-American from UCLA, and the first woman to be drafted and given a tryout by an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers. Read more The Basics Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sheesh, what's it going to be like eight years from now in Little League when some good-looking girl in a skirt starts throwing brushback pitches?". "There are a whole generation of fans alive today who followed him and saw him play," he said. Eckersley working out of a stretch, now heres the 3-2 pitchand a drive into right field (losing voice) WAY BACK! Drysdale's 14-year big league career ended in 1969 at the age of 32. We loved that you came out here but were going to move on, I was not happy. Drysdale played in five World Series and was a member of the Dodgers' World Series championship teams in 1959, 1963 and 1965. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Twenty days short of celebrating Don Jr.'s sixth birthday. His parents moved the family to Santa Barbara, California, four years later. Among the personal belongings found in Drysdale's hotel room was a cassette tape of Robert F. Kennedy's victory speech after the 1968 California Democratic presidential primary, a speech given only moments before Senator Kennedy's assassination. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? He was 56. She worked the room this way, greeting people at a reception held in her honor and also satisfying her 3-year-old's plea for attention. HOF: Did you ever develop an appreciation for baseball? Drysdale was first missed when the Dodgers boarded the bus for the trip to the Expos' ball park for their Saturday night game. Drysdale was a popular guest star in several television programs: In 1963, Drysdale released a 45 rpm record with the songs, Herbie The Love Bug Clip from Disney documentary, 1968 California Democratic presidential primary, List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers, List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise, List of Major League Baseball individual streaks, List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, "Don Drysdale at the Baseball Hall of Fame", "Don Drysdale Is Dead at Age 56; Hall of Fame Pitcher for Dodgers", "World Series Notebook Kaat Knows Something About Pitchers at the Plate", Autographed 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Spring Training Roster Program - Army Reserves - 1957 Meal Card, Drysdale and Koufax on active duty training, How Sandy Koufaxs Motel Helped Lead to Baseballs Big-Money Era, Don Drysdale Collection at SCP - Part II - In the Army Now, Lot #23: DON DRYSDALE'S 1957-58 U.S. ARMY WORN FIELD JACKET (DRYSDALE COLLECTION), Orel Hershiser's scoreless innings streak, "Smarter Podcasts - Delivering Sound Advice - Podcast Production", "There's Room for Memories of Drysdale in Montreal", The Greatest American Hero: The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fastball, Branch Rickey's 1954 amateur scouting report, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Drysdale&oldid=1142588089, August 5,1969,for theLos Angeles Dodgers, With his first wife, Ginger, on February 26, 1959, edition of, In 1959, Drysdale appeared as a mystery challenger on the TV panel show, In 1960, Drysdale appeared in an episode of, Drysdale appears as a soldier in the E-Club in, Drysdale appears as himself (pitching) in the 1962 thriller, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 07:21. Drysdale, 53, grew up in Van Nuys, an only child. In 1962, Drysdale won 25 games and the Cy Young Award. "But you have to move them off the plate; you have to get them out of there. "I asked, "What's her mom look like?' Drysdale, of course, is the Dodgers Hall of Fame right-hander and former announcer who died of a heart attack in 1993. I was thinking, Not this too. Then the pro came down and gave her a few pointers and all of a sudden, here I had been struggling with the game all my life, and she picks up the club and shes halfway there., That little guy in there, Drysdale replied, pointing to Donnies room. We just dont have room for all of it.. And there will be tomorrow! I took the kids when Tommy Lasorda had gone in but they were way too young, so for them to back this past year they were all overwhelmed because now they could appreciate it and understood it a lot more. Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. So we had six practices and then I was basically let go even though it was a personal service contract where I was working for the organization. Little D is already sinking baseballs--OK, whiffleballs--through a basketball hoop, and his coordination is seemingly above average for a 16-month-old. AMD: Don Jr. was born in 1987 on Dons birthday we did not plan that in Chicago when Don was broadcasting with the White Sox. talking to Don, and, I thought he was Don Meredith, Meyers said. Hall of Fame: With March Madness upon us, do you have fond memories from your time at UCLA?
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