World Series: Did You Know?

Don Drysdale did pitch in a World Series for the Dodgers…while they were still in Brooklyn!

As a rookie for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, Drysdale got into 25 games. He even got 12 starts.

He actually posted a pretty good ERA, although he was just a .500 pitcher that season (5-5). The Dodgers, nonetheless, put him on the postseason roster.

Drysdale waited 3 games. Then his first World Series moment came in game 4. It was not what Don was hoping for, however.

It was October 7^th, 1956. Don Drysdale was 20 years old. And at this point, he wasn’t even the second meanest pitcher on the Dodgers. Gotta remember that Don Newcombe and Sal Maglie pitched this year. Gotta think Don took some serious lessons from each!

Drysdale would later state that Sal Maglie was, “an important influence. I learned more from Sal than from and other individual.”

Gee, I wonder what Sal taught Don? Anyone?

But by game 4 of the 1956 World Series, Maglie and Newcombe had already pitched games 1 and 2. No way were they coming in. The Yankees won game 2 over Roger Craig.

Game 4 was between the Yankees Tom Sturdivant to the hill against Carl Erskine. Erskine already had 2 no-hitters to his name. One of them was earlier that season against the Giants on May 12.

So that’s three no-hitters by the Dodgers staff coming into game 4. Sal Maglie pitched one on September 25^th against the Phillies. There would be a no-hitter tossed in game 5 of this Series. Not by a Dodger pitcher. But we are only at game 4 at this point.

Erskine was gone after 4 innings, and the Yankees were up 3-1. Another run against Ed Roebuck (on a majestic solo blast by Mickey Mantle) and New York was poised for the kill of Brookyln.

Then, in the bottom of the 7^th inning, came Don Drysdale out of the bullpen!

Gil McDougald grounded out to short. But then Andy Carey singled. Drysdale then K’d his mound opponent, Sturdivant. But Hank Bauer belted a 2-run home run to left. It was now 6-1 Yankees and the game was hopelessly lost. Drysdale then walked Joe Collins but retired Mantle on a grounder.

Drysdale then retired Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter and Billy Martin (1-2-3) on groundouts in the bottom 8^th. So of the 6 outs Drysdale got, 5 were groundouts.

Not that it mattered. The Yankees won the game 6-2, took game 5 (on Don Larsen’s perfect game) then wrapped it up in 7 games. Drysdale did not get into a game this Series. He would not make his first World Series start until game  4 of the 1959 World Series.

But, at least Drysdale got into a game this Series. The Dodgers had another promising pitcher who was actually there in 1955 and ’56 as well. But he didn't pitch in either World Series.

His name was Sandy Koufax.