Drysdale to Rejoin Dodgers : He’ll Replace Doggett in Broadcast Booth

The baseball season isn’t over yet, and already the Dodgers have made a major deal. They’re bringing home Don Drysdale.

Only eight days after Jerry Doggett announced that he is retiring after 32 seasons in the Dodgers’ broadcast booth, the team announced that Drysdale will replace him.

Drysdale, who had his first face-to-face meeting with Dodger President Peter O’Malley last Wednesday, has agreed to terms on a five-year contract. He’ll join Vin Scully and Ross Porter at the Dodgers’ spring training camp in Vero Beach, Fla., next March 4.

Drysdale, reached at his home in Chicago, said details such as determining how many innings per game he will work have yet to be determined. “I suppose Vin and Ross and I will sit down and work that out,” he said.

It could be assumed that a broadcaster of Drysdale’s stature will work more innings that Doggett did.

Drysdale has been a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox the past six seasons, while also working for ABC. However, he indicated Monday he will give up his position with ABC.

“I doubt I’ll continue with the network,” he said. “I’ll be very happy just working for the Dodgers, and I sure don’t need any more mileage on my frequent-flyer card.”

Drysdale reportedly is making more than $300,000 a year with the White Sox, so the Dodgers presumably will be paying him about the same.

“Money was really not an issue,” Drysdale said.

Drysdale began his broadcasting career with the Montreal Expos in 1970 and worked with Dick Enberg on Angel games from 1973 through 1979.

Drysdale pitched for the Dodgers for 14 seasons, from 1956 to 1969, and nine times was a National League All-Star. He compiled a lifetime record of 209-167 with a 2.95 earned-run average.

Drysdale established a major league record in 1968 when he pitched 58 shutout innings as well as six consecutive shutouts. But his best season was 1962, when he was named the National League Cy Young Award winner. That year, he was 25-9 in 43 games with a 2.84 ERA. He struck out 232 batters in 314 innings.

Drysdale, 51, makes his off-season home in Palm Springs with his wife, former UCLA basketball star Ann Meyers, and their four-month old son, Don Jr., who was born on his father’s birthday, July 23.

“Annie and I are both thrilled about coming back to Los Angeles,” Drysdale said. “Even little Donnie got so excited he wet his diapers.”

Drysdale was an all-around sports star at Van Nuys High School, where he was the quarterback of the football team. His parents live in Palm Desert and his daughter Kelly, 28, lives in San Diego, where she works the DiamondVision scoreboard at Jack Murphy Stadium.