In 1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers, managed by Walter Alston, finished the regular season with a record of 93-61, good enough to claim the National League pennant by one game over the runner-up Milwaukee Braves. Nineteen-year-old Don Drysdale, the team’s up-and-coming, rookie right-hand flamethrower, was just getting his feet wet with the big league ball club and posted a 5-5 mark in 12 starts with a 2.64 ERA and 55 strikeouts to his credit. Though the Dodgers would lose to the vaunted New York Yankees in seven games in the Fall Classic, Drysdale’s emergence would pay big dividends in short order. This lot features Don Drysdale’s 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers National League Championship 10K gold ring.
The front of the ring features four small diamonds, which represent the bases in the baseball-field design, and a single larger diamond in the middle. The lettering along the bezel reads "1956 Brooklyn National League Champions." Both the left and right shanks feature the identical design consisting of a representation of Ebbets Field, the year, "1956," and the team name, "Dodgers," engraved on a representation of a banner, below which is a crossed-bat-and-ball motif. Both "Dieges & Clust" and "10 KARAT" are engraved on the interior band. The Dodgers looked to repeat as World Champions in 1956 but were once again thwarted by their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees. Brooklyn Dodgers championship rings dating from the 1950s are scarce, especially those worn by prominent players, such as the future Hall of Famer. The fact that this size 9.5 ring comes with direct player provenance is extremely rare and commemorates the club's final pennant in Brooklyn, addING to its enormous appeal and historical significance.
Includes LOA from the Drysdale Family.