Drysdale Left a Lasting Impression on Angels, Too

News of Don Drysdale’s death moved through Anaheim Stadium on Saturday evening like one of the former Dodger great’s pitches: Quickly and close enough to leave a lasting impression.

“My heart goes out to Annie (Drysdale’s wife, a former UCLA All-America basketball player) and his family,” said Peter Ueberroth, former major league commissioner, who was in attendance at Saturday’s Angels-Cleveland game.

“When you consider husband and wife, they may be the most famous athletic family in America.”

From his seat behind the Angel dugout, Ueberroth gazed out toward the field and thought of those who batted long ago.

“There will be some retired players out there who, in their dreams, with Don gone, will dig into the batter’s box a little more now,” he said softly.

Ueberroth, Angel senior vice president for baseball operations Dan O’Brien, Angel Manager Buck Rodgers and others remembered Drysdale as a hard-nosed competitor who brought class to the pitching mound and the broadcast booth.

Although Drysdale is in the Hall of Fame as a Dodger, he was an Angel broadcaster from 1973 through 1979 and again in 1981.

“Everybody here I’ve ever talked to who was here when he was with the Angels felt he was the consummate professional as a member of this organization and as a human being,” said O’Brien, who joined the Angels in 1990. “He was something special.

“When you come into an organization, things are passed down or you catch up with stories, and I’ve heard nothing but very positive compliments. People hated to see him leave.”