This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
Things came together quite nicely for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963. Four years removed from winning their first World Series title in their new West Coast location called Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers produced a regular-season record of 99-63 to win the National League pennant by a full six games over the runner-up St. Louis Cardinals. They then went on to four straight against the New York Yankees in the World Series, marking the first time the vaunted Bronx Bombers had ever seen swept in the postseason. On the mound the Blue Crew was once again led by the clutch pitching duo of Sandy Koufax (25 wins) and Don Drysdale (19). Drysdale collected 16 hits on the season, tops for any Dodger pitcher that year. In the World Series, “Big D” started Game 3 and pitched a 1-0, complete game shutout for Los Angeles. He scattered just three hits over nine innings and managed to strike out nine Yankee batters in the process including Mickey Mantle twice. Drysdale came to the plate three times in the game, drawing a pair of walks before grounding into a double play in the bottom of the 7th inning.
This lot features Drysdale’s 1963 World Series game-used Louisville Slugger professional model bat. Despite just three at-bats in the ’63 Fall Classic for Drysdale, the 35-inch bat – which is clearly engraved “WORLD SERIES 1963 DRYSDALE LOS ANGELES DODGERS” on the barrel – shows considerable use which means it’s likely he carried this bat over into the start of the next season. Ball contact marks are abundant throughout the barrel of the bat, which is marked “K55” on the knob. A unique, game-used piece of equipment not ordinarily associated with a pitcher. But when it came to Drysdale, who collected 218 hits during the course of his career, he wasn’t considered an easy out.
Includes LOA from the Drysdale Family. Additional LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (Grade GU10)