Don Drysdale: Up and In: The Life of a Dodgers Legend

Sportswriter Whicker debuts with an affectionate biography of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale (1936–1993). Drysdale joined the Bakersfield Indians, the Dodgers’ Class C team, in his late teens and finished his first season with an 8–5 record. Despite his “fiery” temper (he was once kicked out of a game for disputing balls and strikes), Drysdale moved up to the majors in 1956 and became known for intentionally pitching at batters’ heads to intimidate them. Whicker notes that in contrast to contemporary pitchers, Drysdale excelled as a batter, hitting 29 homers over his 14 seasons in the majors. Elsewhere, Whicker covers Drysdale’s forays into acting, which included guest appearances on Leave It to Beaver and Lawman, as well as his postretirement stints in the broadcasting booth for ABC and, in his later years, the Dodgers. There’s not much on Drysdale’s personal life, and the narrative sometimes meanders, as when Whicker devotes the bulk of a chapter to the ill fates that befell batters hit by pitches thrown by Drysdale’s near contemporaries, but the reverent tone will appeal to Dodgers fans (“When Drysdale walked to the top of a mound, it seemed to grow and rise, and everyone in the ballpark knew anything was possible”). This gets the job done. (Feb.)