Due to a nagging torn rotator cuff injury, longtime Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Don Drysdale finally retired from the game he loved in July of the 1969 season. He final numbers, which earned him a place in Cooperstown in 1984, included 209 victories, 2,486 K’s and a career ERA of 2.95. Not straying too far from the game, he started his sports broadcasting career with the Montreal Expos in 1970. But prior to taking his spot in the radio booth, he had served as an Expos coach during the spring training campaign prior to the start of the season.
This lot features Drysdale’s full 1969 Montreal Expos game-worn coach’s uniform he used during the team’s 1970 spring training session. The size 48 jersey includes the proper Rawlings manufacturer’s tag in the inside rear collar along with a washing instructions tag located on the front left tail. Across the front left chest is both the Expos logo and the team name, while Drysdale’s trademark “53” can be found in blue tackle twill on the right side. His jersey number can be found in larger, seven-inch numerals on the reverse in similar fashion. Located on the left sleeve is MLB’s red, white and blue “100th Anniversary” patch which was worn by all teams during the ’69 campaign. As was common back then, the marked 1969 uniform appears to have then been recycled for use during the 1970 season, which is when Drysdale wore it. The jersey shows some discoloration around the neck area no doubt from “Big D’s” perspiration.
The matching pants boast proper “W.A. Goodman & Sons” manufacturer’s tag on the inside rear waistband next to a longer, chain-stitched tag in blue script reading: “Drysdale 38/33 Set B 1969” indicating the player, waist size, inseam size, set number and season. Montreal’s red-white-and-blue piping runs the entire length of each pant leg. Although Drysdale’s baseball broadcasting career would take him to the Texas Rangers, the Anaheim Angels, and the Chicago White Sox before ultimately bringing him back to his beloved Dodgers, it all started in 1970 in Montreal.