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BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Drysdale Family Keeping in Touch

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Ann Meyers Drysdale continues to try to keep her sons close to the baseball legacy of her late husband, Don Drysdale.

When the Dodgers are home, Meyers brings 6-year-old Don Jr. and 3-year-old Darren to the stadium often.

“We always talk about the Dodger family, and so Ann brings the kids here to the family,” broadcaster Vin Scully said. “She brings them early and they play catch on the field and go into the clubhouse and see their Uncle Tommy (Lasorda), just like they did before.

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“You know, the first night of the home stand after Don’s death, I was sitting in the radio booth doing the broadcast and there next to me was the empty chair that Don used to sit in. Well little DJ (Don Jr.) comes running in the booth and hops in Don’s chair and sits down. He used to come in and sit on Don’s lap, so he went right to the chair. I reached over and gave him a little hug. It was all a part of carrying on. Annie is doing a good job, and it’s a tough job.”

Meanwhile, the seventh annual Don Drysdale Hall of Fame golf tournament remains scheduled Nov. 17-20 at the Pelican Hills Golf Course in Newport Beach, but the response has been slow.

“I think people may think that it is canceled,” said Meyers, who heads the event.

The charity event includes three days of golf with current and former athletes from nearly every sport, including Yogi Berra, Willie Mays, Julius Erving and Pancho Gonzalez.

Information: 1-800-DRYSDALE.

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Atlanta Braves officials are upset that Fulton County Stadium allowed a Hooter’s Restaurant billboard to be painted behind the right-field wall.

The Braves are concerned that the billboard, replete with a bug-eyed owl which uses the two ‘O’s as eyes, can be interpreted as breasts and is not conducive to family entertainment.

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Jody Reed left Atlanta Wednesday morning to return home because his 2-month-old baby was being hospitalized. Mike Sharperson started in place of Reed at second base, his first start since July 24 vs. New York and 11th this season. . . . Darryl Strawberry, who said he needs to decide in the next couple of weeks whether to return to play in September or wait for the fall Instructional League, is scheduled to start swinging a bat during the team’s next home stand. “If he continues to do well as he has been, then perhaps he will begin swinging when we return home,” said Pat Screnar, the Dodgers’ physical therapist.

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Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said his meeting with the parents of first-round draft pick Darren Dreifort still indicated “a significant difference in our positions.”

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