Don Drysdale

Donald Scott Drysdale (July 23, 1936 – July 3, 1993), nicknamed "Big D," was an American professional baseball pitcher and broadcaster who spent his entire 14-year Major League Baseball career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Drysdale was renowned for his intimidating presence on the mound, particularly his aggressive use of the high inside fastball to "brush back" batters, earning him a reputation as one of the game's fiercest competitors. Over his career from 1956 to 1969, he compiled a record of 209 wins and 166 losses with a 2.95 earned run average (ERA), 2,486 strikeouts, and 49 shutouts in 3,432 innings pitched.

Born in Van Nuys, California, to Scott and Verna Drysdale—his father a repair supervisor for Pacific Telephone—Drysdale developed his baseball skills locally, attending Van Nuys High School where he excelled as a pitcher and batter. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 after being scouted, making his MLB debut on April 17, 1956, at age 19, and quickly establishing himself as a starter alongside future Hall of Famers like Sandy Koufax. Drysdale's early career coincided with the Dodgers' transition from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, and he contributed significantly to three World Series championships in 1959, 1963, and 1965.