In 1981, Meyers said, she thought there would be more opportunities for women in basketball in the next 5 to 10 years, yet little has changed. Drysdale pitched for the Dodgers instead of Koufax, giving up seven runs in 2+23 innings. His 154 hit batsmen is a modern National League record. 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. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. 6/19/2017 at 9:54 PM 6/19/2017 at 9:54 PM Drew Drysdale discusses her dad's career, legacy. 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. July 3, 1993 "They're very personalized and customized," he said. That year, he also won 23 games and helped the Dodgers to their third World Championship in Los Angeles. But while Campanella's family requested a private service that drew 200 people, the Dodgers advertised today's service on their recent television broadcasts and the resultant crowds of fans had to be partitioned off in a parking lot. 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 think the one dream Ive always had was to be an Olympian and that started in fourth grade. They put pressure on the kids to win and to succeed, and, sure you want to win, but you want to learn while you win. SUMMARY Career WAR 67.1 W 209 L 166 ERA 2.95 G 518 GS 465 SV 6 IP 3432.0 SO 2486 She's moving back to their winter home in Palm Springs, back to the house that Don built. See About archive blog posts. 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. And I looked back five years before that and said, Well, people talked me out of it one time. Little D is already sinking baseballs--OK, whiffleballs--through a basketball hoop, and his coordination is seemingly above average for a 16-month-old. While at ABC Sports, Drysdale not only did baseball telecasts, but also regional college football games as well as Superstars and Wide World of Sports. [12] They had set an NL record the year before for strikeouts by teammates, with a combined total of 592. Im not going to let them talk me out of it a second time. I thought it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Drysdale was a good hitting pitcher. His career included 10 years with ABC. He passed away on July 3, 1993. The child, otherwise known as "D. J.," said hello, and Koufax waved. "It's not a very nice thing for someone to do. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Along the way she met Don Drysdale, the former Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who won 209 games during his Hall of Fame career. THIS BALL IS GONE! Drysdale had apparently carried the tape with him wherever he went since Kennedy's murder. Meyers was a UCLA All-American and Olympic basketball star, and is in the. But theres more to this couple than trophies. Currently, Don Drysdale is 86 years, 5 months and 20 days old. People have been very good to me. 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. Both men sold their memorabilia, telling her it was a way to help their families while they are still alive. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? In his first start, he beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-1, striking out 9. [12] Those contracts made them the first pitchers to earn more than $100,000 a year. He was previously married to Ann Meyers and Ginger Drysdale. Ann Meyers athletic prowess in womens basketball is legendary. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Don "DJ" Drysdale Jr., MBA Team Loan Officer at VIP Mortgage Inc Scottsdale, AZ. I do the best I can. July 23, 1936 ", 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. Not that they couldnt use an agent--or even a secretary--because their phones never stop ringing. . The scoreless-inning streak stood for 20 years until it was broken by another Dodger pitcher, Orel Hershiser. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 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. Publicly she has put up a cheery front since July 3, the day Don Drysdale died of a heart attack in a Montreal hotel. Drysdale is survived by his wife, Ann Meyers Drysdale, a former all-America basketball player at the University of California at Los Angeles, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and a network broadcaster of basketball games; two sons, Don Jr. and Darren, and a daughter, Drew, from his marriage to Meyers, and a daughter, Kelly, from a previous marriage. AMD: Gosh, Ive just been in the right place at the right time. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Don Drysdale Jr., 6, walked into his father's memorial service this morning and right away found a familiar face: Sandy Koufax. . Donald Scott Drysdale (July 23, 1936 July 3, 1993) was an American professional baseball player and television sports commentator. There are not many leaders.. Eventually I moved closer to my family, to be up in Orange County, and also to be able to go to Dodger Stadium. A collector's edition of the program was re-released in 2007 as a podcast.[16]. 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. Drysdale was first missed when the Dodgers boarded the bus for the trip to the Expos' ball park for their Saturday night game. So its worked out great. In high school, between my junior and senior years, I played in the boys summer basketball league and I wanted to try out for the boys high school team, Meyers said. LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 23: D.J. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Don decorated the house by himself, Meyers says. She said a portion of the proceeds would go to as yet-undecided charities and the rest "to help my kids down the road. "You have to wonder when two players of different teams have the same agent," he said. You should see the first time she held a golf club. in Van Nuys, CA In 1962, Drysdale won 25 games and the Cy Young Award. The service should be mandatory for every kid in America. Find out more. 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. But we (she and the children) fight through things together. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. "[13] "I don't think Don has ever tried intentionally to send someone to the hospital," said Maglie. Hershiser, however, did not match Drysdale's record of six consecutive complete-game shutouts. But you realize it's the people in your life who make you rich.". And this time, Mighty Casey did NOT strike out!!!![18]. She paused, apologizing for the one moment when her composure wavered. 407 Don Drysdale Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 407 don drysdale photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Rick Rizzetto of the Montreal police said a medical examiner estimated the time of death as shortly after midnight Friday. Actor: The Greatest American Hero. may go through. HOF: Can you talk about your relationship with Don Drysdale? HOF: More than four decades later, how do you look at your 1979 tryout with the Pacers? In 1968, Drysdale set Major League records with six consecutive shutouts and 58+23 consecutive scoreless innings. And very, very close. Drysdale, in his sixth season as a Dodgers broadcaster, was 56. Drysdale, a right-hander, and Sandy Koufax, a lefty, were regarded as the finest pitching combination then in the game. Absolutely not," Kelly Drysdale said through tears by phone from her home in Hawaii. . AMD: Yes. My advice is to let the kids play, let them have fun. He shot her a playful grin from the floor, and she responded with a tug of her foot. Meyers Drysdale said sorting through boxes of memorabilia brought "a lot of laughs, memories and tears." There is not attempt, though, to downplay athletics. Meyers was on the playground playing kickball back in 1968 when Howie Bedell singled off Drysdale to end his scoreless inning streak at 58 2/3--a major league record that lasted 20 years. In 14 seasons he had 218 hits in 1,169 at-bats for a .186 batting average, including 96 runs, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 29 home runs, 113 RBI and 60 bases on balls. [22] Ronald Reagan was also a fan of Drysdale. When I was pregnant, Doug Rader (the recently hired Angels manager) said to Don, I want the runt of that litter, Meyers said. Drysdale's was for $105,000, and Koufax's was for $130,000. . I went through the three-day process with two practices a day. You may recall the time umpire Harry Wendelstedt preserved Don Drysdale's scoreless-inning streak when he ruled that batter Dick Dietz didn't make a sincere effort to get out of the way of a. "Some things set you back and they hurt you to the core," she said. [3], Drysdale was born in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, and attended Van Nuys High School, where one of his classmates was actor Robert Redford.[4]. Maybe he will be a shortstop, maybe a great outfielder. . 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. . [12], Nicknamed "Big D" by fans, Drysdale used brushback pitches and a sidearm fastball to intimidate batters,[3] similar to his fierce fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. "If one of my teammates got knocked down, then I knocked down two on the other team. Drysdale's 14-year big league career ended in 1969 at the age of 32. 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. These are things that have been in my family long before she ever met my father.". Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Hed get so mad at me. A season later, he had a 17-9 record and earned a reputation as not being afraid to throw at old pros. A local girl meets a local boy. She is currently vice president of player personnel for the NBAs Phoenix Suns as well as president and general manager of the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury. AMD: It was rewarding. "He touched so many people.". Keep up with headlines and events at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and see who will be taking their place in history next. It started out as a friendship kind of thing. Imler said Drysdale's game-used gloves would be likely the most prized by collectors. Don Drysdale was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Drysdale on the call: Deep right field, way back. She didnt get it. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. . HOF: Have you been to Cooperstown before? After his playing days, he stayed involved in the game as a broadcaster for the White Sox, Rangers, Expos, Angels and Dodgers - as well as ABC's Monday Night Baseball. There are a lot of things I don't know about him because it was before the life that we had together. After I was cut by the Pacers, people said I failed. This is something that has caught me by surprise and is heartbreaking. Drysdale conducted all of the National League player interviews for the Baseball Talk series in 1988 (Joe Torre did the same for the American League). View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen. Everything I learned fundamentally was during my freshman year with him. Drew, 5 months, has a collection of tapes, mementoes and stories that will help her know her dad. It just happened to work out that way. I hope that I can give back. 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. "I asked, "What's her mom look like?' So Ann is doing all she can to extend the memory of Don Drysdale. She has been in the broadcasting business for 9 years, and still hasnt cracked the top. Meyers, 30, is 1 of 11 children, the majority of whom get together every Christmas Eve at the house where Ann grew up, in La Habra. View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject. April 17, 1956 HOF: You and Don would eventually have three children together. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. La Russa pulled up the third base bag and hurled it into the outfield, to the approval of the Comiskey Park crowd, and ensuring his ejection. Everything she has done in her life has been a first. Roy Campanella, who was Drysdale's catcher when the pitcher was a 20-year-old rookie in 1956, died of heart attack on June 26. [12] At the time of his retirement, Drysdale was the last remaining player on the Dodgers who had played for Brooklyn. HOF: You mentioned Don Drysdale. Johnny Podres, Don Newcombe, Buzzie Bavasi, Al Campanis, Dick Williams and Duke Snider were all present, bused in from Dodger Stadium. (Age 33-013d) Both Meyers and Drysdale are broadcasters--he for the Dodgers, the team he starred for on the mound, she for Prime Ticket and the Z Channel as a commentator for mens and womens college basketball. Unfortunately, parents, God bless them, are their own worst enemies. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. SCP Auctions estimates the entire collection to bring in around $1 million, according to vice president Dan Imler. "Who are these players really loyal to, the agent or their teams? The web site is SCPAuctions.com. Darren, almost 4, vied with her for the microphone at the WSF reception. And there will be tomorrow! LOS ANGELES Darren Drysdale clutched his mother's ankles as if they were his favorite teddy bear. 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. It has always been dominated by the male and you can see their energy in how they compete. - BL-1376-68 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library). Don Jr., known as D.J., is 28 and works at an internet company in Arizona; Darren is a 26 . HOF: So the baseball family embraced you after Dons death? Drysdale and Meyers have three children-Don Jr., Darren and Drew Ann. VIP Mortgage Inc, +7 more Grand Canyon University, +3 more Don Drysdale . The items came into her control through the will of Don Drysdale, who died of a heart attack in July 1993 while on the road broadcasting for the Dodgers. Darren was born in 1989 in Pasadena when he was with the Dodgers. The highlight of the series were numerous episodes dedicated to the memory and impact of Jackie Robinson as told by teammates, opponents and admirers. Being a broadcaster myself, thats the one thing I really appreciated about how he broadcast a game. And I say it to you as best I can with a broken heart. 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. When I was a freshman I was able to play for a guy named Kenny Washington, who was one of Coach Woodens players that won a couple of championships. It has to ring six times, then the fax machine picks up. You don't see 15 guys going out for a beer anymore. "There are a whole generation of fans alive today who followed him and saw him play," he said. 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. They dont have a maid, a cook or even a once-a-week house cleaner. Awards. You go on because of Donnie, because of Don Drysdale and the man he was. Even a veteran in this game needs a mentor, and I've lost truly the best. 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. Married in 1986, the couple had three children before he passed away at the age of 56 in 1993. The first noted speaker was Orel Hershiser, the pitcher who in 1988 broke Drysdale's record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings, by one inning. Born in Van Nuys, Calif., Drysdale was a high school phenomenon whom the Dodgers signed in 1954 for a $4,000 bonus and a salary of $600 a month. Ann Meyers Drysdale remembers her Hall of Fame husband, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. The first decision I had when I was the GM beginning in 2007 was that we won the draft lottery and had the number one pick and I traded that away. When Hall of Famer Don Drysdale Sr. died of a heart attack on July 3 at the age of 57, the 38-year-old Meyers did not go into hiding, she went knocking on his old office door: the Dodgers'. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Don Drysdale weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. I wound up hitting him instead. And our daughter Drew was born in Palm Springs when it was the offseason. 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. There were no exceptions.[10]. It is somewhat of a mutual admiration society at the Drysdale house. Former Dodgers pitchers and Hall of Famers Don Sutton, right, and Sandy Koufax chat before an Old-Timers game on June 8, 2013 at Dodger Stadium. I thought Id be in the Olympics as a track athlete but it happened to be in basketball. Drysdale items go to auction despite objections, Harper may return Tue., 160 days post-TJ surgery, Rangers ace deGrom 'frustrated' to land on IL, Twins will shut P Mahle down for at least 4 weeks, Cards broadcaster, 2-time champ Shannon dies, Giants' Yastrzemski (hamstring) likely IL-bound, Yankees to evaluate Judge's hip strain Monday, Mexico City's uphill climb toward landing an MLB franchise. I am concerned about what D.J. You thought you were hot stuff being a major league pitcher, and then you went to Fort Dix and found out that it doesnt matter who you were. Year Team League; 1959: Los Angeles Dodgers: NL: 1959: Los Angeles Dodgers . But it was great to have somebody to have a conversation with and talk about things. In 1957, the Dodgers' final season in Brooklyn, Drysdale was the ace of the staff with a 17-9 record. . ', "You look at the positives. Drysdale was occasionally used as a pinch-hitter, once during the World Series. This was part of the game and everybody accepted it as part of the game. So there are stories I'm hearing now, and it's like give me more. Minutes after the conversation with Ann Meyers Drysdale ended, she sent the following email: AMD: Wanted to mention that Dick Enberg received the Frick Award this year and he and Donnie worked Angel games together and were a pretty special team too. Tell me more about him.". ), 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.
