Don Drysdale lived a few blocks from me as a kid growing up in Woodland Hills CA. in the early 60's. He drove a 1961 or 62 pink Lincoln Continental rag top and we saw him almost every day on Ventura Blvd. Kids would flag him down for autographs and he would always stop his car to oblige. I remember as a 10 year old he was at the Woodland West car wash teaching kids how to throw a curve with a tennis ball. Guy was huge and always very polite.
Don Drysdale and his first wife lived about 5 doors away from my family in Van Nuys for many years. My sister used to play with his daughter. On Halloween, we would knock at his door and this Paul Bunyan of a man would answer the door himself, and we as small kids would look up as if we were looking at a tree! Very intimidating! What a pitcher. One thing Firestone never discussed was Drysdale's hitting. For a couple of years Drysdale was the #2 pinch hitter on the Dodgers, and one year, if I'm not mistaken, he finished second in home runs for the Dodgers and batted nearly .300. Fond memories. I sadly remember Vin Scully calling the game on the day the Drysdale died and keeping the news inside until the 9th inning. I'm sure I cried.
When I think about the Dodgers of my youth, I think of Sandy and Don. Lefty and righty. My dad was a great baseball fan and knew a lot about the game. He would always say that pitching wins pennants. Don and Sandy proved that 3 times in the 60's. When they were healthy and 100% the pennant was going to LA. Rest in peace Don Drysdale. You were one of my greatest heroes when I was a boy consumed by baseball.
I still remember when Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett announced it either during or right before the game. My mom cried. He was a great competitor and awesome in the booth!
I love baseball now more than ever after learning about all these old-school greats like Don Drysdale. Baseball's the only sport that appeals to everyone from little boys to little old ladies and everything in between including nuns, and priests...and drunkards'.
I should point out that Bob Gibson was a righthander and Steve Carlton was a Lefty. They played for the Cardinals until 1971, but Carlton was young. And the Cardinals stupidly let him go.
Bob Gibson was always considered the meanest and most intimidating pitcher during his time, but Drysdale (and also Jim Bunning) hit a lot more batters.
Bob Gibson was also a very fast pitcher not in speed but he never waited for the batter and was always ready to throw down.. as soon as the batter entered the box. kev
WISH DON WAS STILL ALIVE! GREAT MAN GREAT PITCHER! WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD HIM AFTER THE GAMES WITH THE ASS TOES! HE WOULD'VE BEEN THROWING AT ALL OF THEM! A DIFFERENT GAME BACK THEN!
Probably every interview Drysdale ever did in his life was 50% about Koufax. He handled that nicely here but he must have gotten tired of it at some point.
I heard Drysdale said something like, 'a batter should be intimidated, if he isn't, it's a pitcher's job to remind him that he should be intimidated.' LOL!!!
![Don Drysdale Game Highlights & Pitching Mechanics [Best Quality]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/53Gg44vid3Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Don Drysdale lived a few blocks from me as a kid growing up in Woodland Hills CA. in the early 60's. He drove a 1961 or 62 pink Lincoln Continental rag top and we saw him almost every day on Ventura Blvd. Kids would flag him down for autographs and he would always stop his car to oblige. I remember as a 10 year old he was at the Woodland West car wash teaching kids how to throw a curve with a tennis ball. Guy was huge and always very polite.
Don Drysdale and his first wife lived about 5 doors away from my family in Van Nuys for many years. My sister used to play with his daughter. On Halloween, we would knock at his door and this Paul Bunyan of a man would answer the door himself, and we as small kids would look up as if we were looking at a tree! Very intimidating! What a pitcher. One thing Firestone never discussed was Drysdale's hitting. For a couple of years Drysdale was the #2 pinch hitter on the Dodgers, and one year, if I'm not mistaken, he finished second in home runs for the Dodgers and batted nearly .300. Fond memories. I sadly remember Vin Scully calling the game on the day the Drysdale died and keeping the news inside until the 9th inning. I'm sure I cried.
Awesome stories
Great guy who left us too early. One of our great ones
This was a great sports talkshow. Enjoyed the way Firestone lead interviews. Very solid. Too bad ESPN lost their journalistic way...
You're so right.
Agreed! You said it. Did they not know that this is what gave their channel depth?
They've gotten too political and one sided, to the point where they got away from there main brand, which ironically enough, is SPORTS!
Up Close with Roy Firestone, Outside the Lines with Bob Ley and The Sports Reporters were my favorite shows on ESPN. I haven't watched ESPN in forever
@@r3tr0actiongamer24 Don Drysdale once had his own show on USA Network called "Don Drysdale's Baseball USA".
When I think about the Dodgers of my youth, I think of Sandy and Don. Lefty and righty. My dad was a great baseball fan and knew a lot about the game. He would always say that pitching wins pennants. Don and Sandy proved that 3 times in the 60's. When they were healthy and 100% the pennant was going to LA. Rest in peace Don Drysdale. You were one of my greatest heroes when I was a boy consumed by baseball.
Was there ever a better-looking, more charismatic baseball player than Don Drysdale? What a killer smile!
My favorite all-time Dodger. It was never the same for me after he passed away.
I still remember when Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett announced it either during or right before the game. My mom cried.
He was a great competitor and awesome in the booth!
Koufax & Drysdale
1 2 best ever
I love baseball now more than ever after learning about all these old-school greats like Don Drysdale. Baseball's the only sport that appeals to everyone from little boys to little old ladies and everything in between including nuns, and priests...and drunkards'.
Koufax & Drysdale every opposing teams worst nightmare!
Don was a fine pitcher and commentator, always enjoyed him and Sandy with the Dodgers, resting in peace eternally safe in Heaven
I still remember Wilbur Stargell hitting 3 homeruns off Drysdale and if I'm not mistaken , 2 of them cleared the right field pavillion .
#8 is my all time favorite!!!!
I Loved the Don Drysdale vs. Willie McCovey pitcher-batter match-up...as a child.
Are Drysdale and Kofax the greatest 1-2 punch pitchers on the same team? Thumbs up yes, thumbs down no.
Maddux/Glavine?
Definitely 1-2 punchers when it came to getting a raise!!
Thumbs down is not tallied anymore. RUclips is afraid of hurting your feelings.
I should point out that Bob Gibson was a righthander and Steve Carlton was a Lefty. They played for the Cardinals until 1971, but Carlton was young. And the Cardinals stupidly let him go.
Well, I'd put them on the Very Short List... but in 2-1 order, as you present them. Koufax, then Drysdale.
Don was later on a color man for my White Sox. He was really good at it. Then died early. A big loss to all of us.
This is fantastic!
Can’t believe he is gone
My memory of DD was seeing him on Leave it to Beaver.
He was on the Brady Bunch, not Leave it to Beaver.
@@davida3312 it was Wes Parker the first baseman.
you are right he was on the brady bunch my mistake.
Matchup I'd love to see: Barry Bonds crowding the plate wearing his battle armor vs. Big D.
If Bonds was crowding the plate he would have gotten hit.
Roy Firestone was all class.
Bob Gibson was always considered the meanest and most intimidating pitcher during his time, but Drysdale (and also Jim Bunning) hit a lot more
batters.
Bob Gibson was also a very fast pitcher not in speed but he never waited for the batter and was always ready to throw down.. as soon as the batter entered the box. kev
BIG D, total LA, looks like a movie star.
gotta love these old stories . he had dinner w/ his old friend SK. owners trying to pull the wool over their eyes.it didn't work.
Gone too soon
WISH DON WAS STILL ALIVE! GREAT MAN GREAT PITCHER! WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD HIM AFTER THE GAMES WITH THE ASS TOES! HE WOULD'VE BEEN THROWING AT ALL OF THEM! A DIFFERENT GAME BACK THEN!
Interesting story about Sandy Koufax
Senator Robert F. Kennedy gave Drysdale a shout out the night he was shot and killed in Los Angeles at the Ambassador Hotel: June 5th 1968
Hollywood handsome and California cool.
Lets not forget Johnny Podres....Koufax Drysdale and Podres....Dodgers Big Three!
This beautiful manly man has on pink! He seemed very comfortable in his skin.
Probably every interview Drysdale ever did in his life was 50% about Koufax. He handled that nicely here but he must have gotten tired of it at some point.
alone in elevator against gun and knife and comes out. wow.
I'm sorry , it wasn't 380 strikeouts , it was 382 and 27 wins ! And back then these guys pitched a full 9 innings and then some .
GOAT
Getting literally "Up Close"was genius
If the Dodgers had Mantle 59-66 might have never lost??
WTF happened to Roy Firestone?
TRIVIA TIME!!!! Who is the only hall of famer to have pitched at least ten seasons and never had a losing record?
Don Drysdale
LIVE! BREATHE! BLUE!
🌎✌️🔀⚾
Don Drysdale, disarmed a guy with a knife and a gun, too. Real life, John Wick.
I heard Drysdale said something like, 'a batter should be intimidated, if he isn't, it's a pitcher's job to remind him that he should be intimidated.' LOL!!!
#53🍚
Not even a hint of pompousness in him. So different than today's loudmouths. Too bad Lebron can't be more like Big D.
I remember when roy got arrested at the 1978 WS for trying to steal a NY yankees uniform shirt from the yankees locker room .
Did Sandy ever get married?