This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
Few pitchers intimidated their 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 an awesome pair of game-worn cleats from the prime of Big Don's career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1960's. The black Spot-Bilt (now Saucony) leather shoes have Don's No. "53" marked in black inside each tongue with the Spot-Bilt logo patch on the right's outer tongue. "222 9D" is stamped outside each tongue, perhaps pertaining to model and size (although they appear quite larger than 9). 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. Both insoles have a Goodyear Welt leather strip for extra cushioning. Inside the right shoe is a orthotic insert still fully intact, while the left has a crumbled part of one towards the toe. The black laces appear to be the originals. The six metal spikes on the bottom are all intact and still relatively sharp. Such a rarity to find a pair of 1960's era game-worn baseball cleats with this 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.
Includes LOA from the Drysdale family.