Don Drysdale: The Greatest Baseball Player of All Time?

Don Drysdale was one of the best pitchers of his generation, and many believe he was the best player of all time. But is he really the greatest player of all time?

Introduction

Don Drysdale was a famous baseball player who pitched for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1969. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time. In his career, he won nine All-Star selections, five World Series titles, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

Early Life and Career

Don Drysdale was born in Van Nuys, California, on July 23, 1936. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1954. Drysdale made his Major League debut with the Dodgers on April 17, 1956.

Drysdale was an excellent pitcher, boasting a career record of 209-166 with 2,693 strikeouts. He was a nine-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

Drysdale is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He is especially remembered for his amazing durability; he once pitched 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, which is still a major league record.

The Prime of His Career

Don Drysdale is often considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He had a successful career spanning 20 years, playing for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was an All-Star player nine times and a World Series champion three times. In 1968, he set the record for the most consecutive shutout innings pitched, which still stands today.

Drysdale’s career stats are impressive, but it’s worth noting that he played during an era when starting pitchers were expected to complete games regularly. In his best season (1962), he pitched 33 complete games out of 42 starts. In today’s game, it would be very rare for a pitcher to throw even half that many complete games.

So was Don Drysdale really the greatest baseball player of all time? It’s impossible to say for sure, but there’s no doubt that he was one of the best pitchers to ever play the game.

His Later Years

Don Drysdale was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1985. He had a 5-13 win-loss record with the Expos. Drysdale retired from baseball soon afterwards.
In his later years, Drysdale was employed as a television commentator for the Dodgers.

His Legacy

Don Drysdale is considered one of the best pitchers of all time. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1969. During that time, he had a record of 209-166 with an ERA of 2.95. He was a nine-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

Don Drysdale was known for his competitiveness, often pitching complete games and taking extra innings in order to get a win. He also had a famous rivalry with Giants pitcher Juan Marichal. In 1965, the two players got into a fight after Marichal hit Dodgers catcher John Roseboro on the head with his bat. The incident caused a 14-day suspension for Marichal and increased tensions between the Giants and Dodgers.

Despite his accomplishments, some baseball fans believe that Don Drysdale is not the greatest pitcher of all time. Critics argue that he benefited from pitching in an era when starting pitchers frequently went the distance and that his statistics are not as impressive when compared to today’s pitchers. Others believe that his accomplishments are overshadowed by those of other pitchers, such as Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson.

What do you think? Is Don Drysdale the greatest baseball player of all time?

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there are many great baseball players, Don Drysdale was the greatest of all time. He had an incredible ability to pitch and hit, and he was a key member of some of the best teams in baseball history. His accomplishments on the field speak for themselves, and his impact on the game is still felt today. If you’re looking for the best player in baseball history, look no further than Don Drysdale.