This wonderful Los Angeles Dodgers home jersey was donned by the great Don Drysdale in 1966, his final season alongside Sandy Koufax who would retire at the end of the year. Drysdale was the workhorse of the legendary Dodgers staff, a cadre of fireballers that propelled the newly transplanted Dodgers to three World Series titles in seven years. The imposing right-hander won 25 games in 1962 to claim the NL Cy Young Award. In 1968, he set major league records with six consecutive shutouts and 58 consecutive scoreless innings, a staggering record barely broken by fellow Dodger Orel Hershiser 20 years later. He ended his career with 209 wins, 2,486 strikeouts, 167 complete games and 49 shutouts to secure his spot in Cooperstown.
If 1966 needed any addition historical oomph, it marked year of the "Great Holdout” when the two pitching aces announced prior to spring training that they were seeking a contract of just over $1 million for three years, divided equally between them. Ultimately, they would sign for $130,000 (Koufax) and $105,000 – thought to be a lot of money at the time. In truth, it was a glimpse of the escalating strife between upper management and a strengthening labor union that would eventually lead to free agency.
The creamy white flannel features a vibrant rendering of the classic Dodger Blue felt script on the front and Drysdale's famed No. 53 on the back. Just as vivid are the red felt numbers on the jersey front. The shirt shows optimal game use and remains all-original condition with no alterations. The McAuliffe tag appears on the front-left tail directly beneath a white felt tag with "Drysdale" in embroidered red stitching. Attached to the McAuliffe tag are smaller flag tags with "66" and size "46." Originated from the Newport Sports Museum Collection, which we helped liquidate five years ago. Includes LOA from MEARS with perfect A10 grade.