Dodgers Blue Heaven: The Don Drysdale 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet

Here is another post featuring the 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet set. Go here to see my past post showcasing this set; including complete scans of both the Vin Scully/Jerry Doggett and Walter Alston booklets. This time I share the Don Drysdale Booklet.

This Dodger needs little introduction. Don Drysdale was a force-of-nature on the mound. He was feisty and unforgiving. If you irked him while he was pitching, he let you know it - usually, with a high-hard one. Foremost, Drysdale was just as effective on the mound as he was intimidating.

He lead the league in strike outs 3 times, won the CY Young Award in 1962 and is a 3X World Series Champion. Unsurprisingly, he also lead the league in hit-batters 5 times. It's like he was constantly battling the notion of throwing a strike or at you. BTW, he currently holds the modern National League record for hit batsman at 154. Unfortunately, chronic shoulder problems ended his career at the age of 33. The 8-time All-Star was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

For many of todays Dodgers fans, he is best remembered as a broadcaster. He worked in Los Angeles from 1988 til his death in 1993. Drysdale is especially remembered for his 1988 World Series radio call of Kirk Gibson's game winning home run. (Thanks to Joshua Suchon you can listen to it on youtube, here)

Eckersley working out of the stretch, here's the three-two pitch...and a drive hit to right field (losing voice) WAY BACK! THIS BALL IS GONE! (After 2 minutes of crowd noise) This crowd will not stop! They can't believe the ending! And this time, Mighty Casey did NOT strike out!!!!

Below are complete scans of every page from Don Drysdale's 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet. Click any pic to embiggen.