This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
Few pitchers intimidated opposing hitters like the great Don Drysdale. Standing 6'5", the right-handed hurler looked like a giant on the mound as he stared down at the batter's box. This lot features a spectacular pair of game-worn cleats from early in Big Don's Dodger career, stretching from perhaps his first two seasons in Brooklyn to the team's cross-country move in 1958 to Los Angeles and into the early 60's. The black Spalding leather shoes have Don's No. "53" marked in black inside each shoe on the insole insert. The Spalding brand patch is sewn inside each tongue. No size is labeled, but they seem in the 11-12 range. Customized for a right-handed pitcher with an additional layer of thick leather on the right toe where Don pushed off the rubber 100+ times per game, the cleats show incredible game use, with dirt stuck to the metal spikes and the added right toe section. The black laces appear to be the originals. The six metal spikes on the bottom are all intact and still relatively sharp. The entire bottom of the outsoles is covered with dirt with a few spikes still holding on to chunks. Such a rarity to find a pair of late 50's/early 60's game-worn baseball cleats with so much use, yet still essentially presenting as-issued like they were sitting in Drysdale's locker awaiting another dominant start by the Hall of Famer. These are the earliest known cleats from Don's career and perhaps he earliest that will ever surface, coming from his personal estate collection.
Includes LOA from the Drysdale family.