Fast Facts

Personal

Full Name: Donald Scott Drysdale
Born: July 23, 1936, Van Nuys, California
Died: July 3, 1993, Montreal, Canada
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Nickname: “Big D”
Married: Ann Meyers (1986)

Professional

Position: Pitcher
Debut: April 17, 1956
Jersey: No. 53 (retired in 1984)
Threw: Right
Batted: Right
Baseball Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers (1956-1957), Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1969)
Mentor: Sal “the Barber” Maglie

Did you know?

  • Drysdale frequently threw 90+ m.p.h. fastballs.
  • He was forced to retire early at age 33 because of a torn rotator cuff.
  • Before retiring, Drysdale set a record for hitting batters during his career, striking a total of 154.
  • In 1979, Drysdale’s future wife Ann Meyers became the first woman to sign a contract with the NBA.