May 14th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka If you were born in 1964, chances are exceptionally good that your independent recollection of actually seeing Dodgers Hall of Fame right-hander Don Drysdale pitch live and in-person is extremely vague, as you would have been five years old when he pitched his final game on August 5, 1969. If you were born on or after August 5, 1969, you obviously did not see him pitch in person; and to you, all I can say is ‘Man, I’m sorry.’ You missed out on seeing the guy who was – hands down – the fiercest right-hander to ever play the game.
In addition to his Hall of Fame-appropriate 209-166 career record and remarkable 2.95 career ERA over 14 major league seasons, the Van Nuys, California native had a .186 / .228 / .295 / .523 career slash line with the bat; certainly not batting-title worthy, but excellent numbers for a pitcher. In fact, on more than one occasion, Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston called upon ‘Big-D’ to pinch-hit … and not to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Just how dangerous (and valuable) was the nine-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and former MLB Player of the Year with the bat? How about 26 doubles, seven triples, and 29 home runs. He also drove in 113 runs during his 14-year MLB career, all with the Dodgers. (Did I mention that Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston often called upon ‘Big-D’ to pinch-hit?).
After his remarkable playing career, Drysdale remained with the Dodgers organization as an award-winning broadcaster until, sadly, he was found dead in his Montreal hotel room on July 3, 1993, the victim of an apparent heart attack, 27 days shy of his 57th birthday.
“Friends, we’ve known each other a long time and I’ve had to make a lot of announcements, some more painful than others. But never have I ever been asked to make an announcement that hurts me as much as this one, and I say it to you as best I can with a broken heart,” Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully told his radio audience after Drysdale’s family had been notified.
On Wednesday morning, it was being widely reported on social media that Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association were nearing a decision to add the designated hitter rule to the National League; something that the American League adopted back in 1973 but the National League has long refused to do. The reported argument to go with the DH in the NL is that it will add an additional roster spot(s) and, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, would help the Dodgers due to their ridiculous offensive depth.
Although it has long been believed that the DH would eventually make its way into the National League, die-hard baseball purists – and there are many – are not happy about it, as noted in the comments to Heyman’s tweet.
Needless to say, you can bet that the great Don Drysdale is rolling over in his grave over this one.
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Posted in 
@Dodgers MLB just sealed the fate of MLB. The great game is dead.
I like the NL game best, but wouldn’t mind seeing Beatty, Peters and Rios hit regularly in the show.
If the NL adopts the DH it is a tragedy. No real baseball fan likes the strategy less AL.
I’m old enough and lucky to have seen Don Drysdale pitch and hit.
Big D, was a true competitor. Not only did Walter Alston use Big D as a pinch hitter, he also moved him up in the lineup at times. I believe I was at a Dodger game where Big D batted seventh. Sadly, if my memory is correct he didn’t shine that day with the bat. But he was a dangerous hitter and those stats look even better when you consider he largely played during a pitching dominant era.
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale formed probably the greatest one two punch in baseball history for a few seasons. One of my childhood highlights was getting asked by a friend to accompany him and his Dad, who owned a carpet store, to go to Don’s home while his Dad put carpeting in Big D’s home. This was somewhere between 1963-1965. My friend and I were huge Dodger fans and at the time even might have considered Big D to be the better pitcher after his 1962 Cy Young campaign.
We were at the house for a few hours, unfortunately, Big D wasn’t at home. Of course we were disappointed, but the day was saved when my friend’s Dad mentioned to Ginger Drysdale what big fans we were. She then gave us each several autographed pictures of Don. That made us two 11-12 year old boys day. Have to mention also, the fact that Ginger was quite the looker wasn’t lost on us either.
GREAT story, Box! Thanks for sharing.
I was in awe when Don appeared on ‘The Rifleman’ with Chuck Connors (a former Brooklyn Dodger and Chicago Cub himself) and years later on ‘The Brady Bunch.’
I remember a variety show in which Drysdale sang “I Left My Heart in San Fransisco”. He was actually quite good, until he lost his voice at the end.
So they called in Ron Perranoski to finish it. As singers go Perranoski was a good pitcher.
He did “The Donna Reed Show” too, along with Willie Mays.
I got to see Don Drysdale pitch game 1 of a double header at Shea Stadium in NY in 1967.Drysdale got bombed early and the dodgers were down 6-2 late but rallied back with a big hit by the three dog W Davis. Dodgers also won the second game for a sweep.
It’s was actually April of 68.Right before Drysdale went on the scoreless streak.
I read about the “universal DH” but I thought it was for the 2020 season only. I hate to see it as being permanent. I don’t like changes.
Well, greatest right hander is saying a lot–let’s not forget Bob Gibson, Ferguson Jenkins, and a few others. Gibson, according to Fergie, was a foot faster than he was. And that’s damn fast.