It’s hard to believe that a Hall of Famer actually was a second fiddle during a good chunk of his career. But Don Drysdale, an imposing 6’5” hard-throwing righty, had the “misfortune” of pitching on the same staff as Sandy Koufax. Veteran journalist Mark Whicker looks to give “Big D” his due in DON DRYSDALE: UP AND IN.

Drysdale grew up in California but was signed by the Dodgers while they were still in Brooklyn. In fact, when he retired in 1969 at the age of 32 --- just two years older than Koufax, who was forced to step down after the 1966 season because of injuries --- he was the last player from those “Boys of Summer” teams.

"Veteran journalist Mark Whicker looks to give 'Big D' his due in DON DRYSDALE: UP AND IN.... As intimidating a presence as he was, Whicker wants readers to know that Drysdale had a kinder, gentler side."

It might be unfathomable for younger fans to imagine a time when starting pitchers routinely pitched more than 250 innings a year. In fact, Drysdale had four consecutive seasons of more than 300 innings. He also was famous (or infamous) for throwing at batters, especially those who chose to challenge him by standing close to the plate.

As intimidating a presence as he was, Whicker wants readers to know that Drysdale had a kinder, gentler side. He was among the first to welcome rookies to the team, which was uncommon for veterans in those days. And while he might knock you down with an up-and-in pitch, after the game he would buy you a beer. Let bygones be bygones.

There are two events that stand out in Drysdale’s career, aside from eight All-Star appearances and a Cy Young Award, indicative of the league’s best pitcher. Prior to the 1966 season, he and Koufax took the unheard-of stance of joint contract negotiations. This was several years before free agency when teams still controlled the fates of their players. Koufax and Drysdale wanted a staggering sum of $1 million split between the two of them over three years and were prepared to hold out if their demands were not met.

Although Drysdale and Koufax didn’t get all that money, they did get hefty raises, both receiving more than $100,000. (Koufax would step down after the Dodgers lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series that year.) What would they have done if the Dodgers didn’t play ball? Perhaps acting would fill the void. Drysdale appeared in several TV shows, including “The Flying Nun,” “The Brady Bunch,” “The Greatest American Hero” and “Then Came Bronson.”

The second major accomplishment was breaking the record for consecutive scoreless innings, which occurred in 1968, known as “the year of the pitcher.” Drysdale did not allow a run to score for more than 58 innings, a number that was broken by another Dodger hurler, Orel Hershiser, with 59 in 1988.

Despite his stats, Drysdale was not a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame. While he eventually was inducted in 1988, it took him 14 years to make it to Cooperstown.

After Drysdale retired, he became a broadcaster. He worked for several teams, including the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, California Angels and Montreal Expos. In 1993, while working a game for the Dodgers against the Expos, Drysdale was found dead in his hotel in Montreal. He was just 59 years old.

As for his life off the field, Drysdale was married twice, the second time to basketball legend Ann Meyers. He enjoyed good music and good booze, which Whicker suggests may have been a problem. Drysdale was involved in a DUI accident that cost him in fines and community service, but it never seemed to interfere with his vocation.

While it’s good to have Drysdale’s story told, UP AND IN does have a few flaws. In 1965, Koufax sat out of the first game of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins because it fell on Yom Kippur, which Whicker fails to explain is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Perhaps he thinks everyone knows that. Another faux pas is suggesting that one can buy tickets to the Hall of Fame on Ticketmaster. One cannot.