In a Major League Baseball career that spanned 14 seasons, three World Series championships (1959, ’63 and ’65) and one Cy Young Award (1962), former Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Don Drysdale earned his fair share of accolades and awards. Off the field, however, Drysdale was often lauded for not only his pitching prowess but for his ability to set fine examples for the youth of America. This lot features three different awards Drysdale earned from politicians across the land.
The first career achievement award comes from the County of Los Angeles in 1969. Measuring 11.5” wide by 20.5” high, the award, which sports the raised emblem of the County of Los Angeles, acknowledges Drysdale’s recent retirement announcement in July of that year and recounts many of his on-field achievements including “victories (209), most innings pitched (3,432), most strikeouts (2,486) and the most shutouts (49).” The framed award is signed in black fine-point marker by five L.A. County dignitaries: Ernest Debs, Chairman of the Board; and four county supervisors, Frank Bonelli, Burton Chace, Kenneth Hahn and Warren Dorn.
The second award comes from then-Kentucky Governor Wendell H. Ford on Dec. 6, 1974, proclaiming Don Drysdale as a “Kentucky Colonel” as commissioned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The framed proclamation, which measures 11” wide by 16” high, boasts the raised, blue ribbon seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and reads in part: “Know Ye That Honorable Don Drysdale, Calabasas, California, Is Commissioned A Kentucky Colonel. I hereby confer this honor with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto appertaining.” It is signed in black fine-point marker by the Acting Governor of Kentucky, Julian M. Carroll, and the Secretary of State, Thelma L. Stovall.
The third award comes in the form of a matted and framed Citation from the President of Brooklyn, City of New York, Howard Golden. The framed award measures 16” wide by 22” high and includes the raised gold seal of the Borough of Brooklyn along with Brooklyn President Howard Golden’s signature in fine-point black marker. The Citation reads, in part: “Whereas, Athletes Are Important Role Models For Our Young People, And Their Contributions Deserve Our Highest Praise And Recognition; And Whereas, Don Drysdale Was The Fearless Pitcher For The Original Brooklyn Dodgers In 1956 and 1957, Before Moving With The Team To Los Angeles, And Struck Terror In The Hearts of Hitters Across the Country.” The award is dated June 12, 1984, approximately two months prior to Drysdale’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Includes LOA from the Drysdale Family.