Helmar “This Great Game” Card #27 – Don Drysdale (Brooklyn Dodgers)

This striking Helmar card presents a young Don Drysdale in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, his expression open and confident, capturing the calm before the storm of his pitching dominance. The bold red, blue, and yellow backdrop accentuates his sharp features and bright eyes, emphasizing both his youth and intensity. The artist balances realism with design abstraction—the solid blocks of color suggest the grandeur of Ebbets Field while highlighting the clean lines of the Dodgers’ classic lettering. It’s a portrait that evokes the promise of a star in the making, a moment of poised determination before his rise to fame as one of the fiercest competitors of his generation.

Born in Van Nuys, California, in 1936, Don Drysdale debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956 and quickly became a pillar of their pitching staff. Standing 6'5”, he was known for his intimidating presence and aggressive style on the mound, unafraid to pitch inside to any hitter. A nine-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, Drysdale combined control, power, and fearlessness to dominate National League batters through the 1960s. His 1962 Cy Young Award and record-setting 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968 stand as enduring testaments to his excellence. Alongside Sandy Koufax, Drysdale formed one of the most formidable pitching duos in baseball history. After retiring in 1969, he transitioned into broadcasting, bringing his insight and charm to fans for decades. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series honors the legends whose passion and skill shaped baseball’s golden age. Card No. 27 commemorates Don Drysdale—a fierce competitor whose legacy endures as one of the true giants of the game.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.