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Show ... Braves 'decided last mfife Milwaukee X June, to learn if baseball's baa had really turned "nice." TkoW AiAn't have mtich choice, 4 AAV-- the This year things have changed. Don is the lge ooy way" Don d Drysdale, the Los Angeles Dodgers' whip-armeoDOOsition. it was rirrMx, had hAPn handMiffincr a " 6VJt obvious his only weakness as his short temper. Before a night game at Chavez Ravine, Milwaukee pitcher Bob Shaw started the Drysdale ordeal by brazenlyscouting Dodger batters in six- practice. Arms folded, Drysdale planted his foot-si- x frame between Shaw and the bttmgjox ana jprieu io put a uain. atuwi uu. a av had made boyishly, pleasant and handsome. Shaw didn't mind; he had jabbed in the thorn ana, knowing Drysdale, it would soon fester into childish tantrums and soft pitches. By the fifth inning, however, Drysdale was still calm and the Braves were becalmed in an arid shutout., Then Drysdale, who, has hit 1 batters in six years without being "clipped himself, stepped to the plate. Shaw promptly bounced a fast ball off his right, elbow. Without a trace of temper, Don took first base. Two innings later, relief hurler Hank Fisher's fast ball thumped Don's right arm. Fisher tood with legs apart as if awaiting a hurricane, onslaught and 28,000 fans yelled for blood. To the disappointment of all but Dodger brass, Don just trotted to first and then coolly went on for a 2 win that made him top pitcher in the majors. "I'm sure they weren't trying to tag me," he deadpanned after the game: "Most pitchers don't do that intentionally." Dodger teammates listened . e i l J in awe. iney rememoereu isons uaya ua au&i when they ducked baseballs and batting helmets thrown in. blind rages. Don has held a patent on instant anger since ", his first year. up, when he and Johnny Logan, traded punches. He graduated to bitter personal feuds with managers, players, and baseball barons, tangled with an enraged Milwaukee squad in a battle that ended with Drysdale flat suson his back, and last year suffered a five-da- y pension and a $100 fine for decking Frank Robinson with three straight throws. Bad Boy " dalrling him, and teammates get him runs. Don claims these facts, not a sweeter disposition, have brought him new success. Teammates have disputed this. Early in the season, "roommate Lee Walls joked that Don wasn't hitting batters only because batters weren't hitting his pitches. "Just wait," Walls said. But 6veh when Don's gopher bMs vanished Now Walls over the fence, he remained Job-likconcedes his buddy may be a changed man. J Batters likeJllieMaysJayjorite-- f or Don's 98 m.p.h. brush-bac- k pitch, also think he has lost some meanness and gained pitching stature. In 1959, Don hit 18 Jbatters, highest in the National League since 1915. And for four years, he led the league in knocking down batters. This year, that is the only record he's hot threatening, d kindlinessv "I but again he denies any still pitch them tight," he says. "When a batter crowds the plate, you have to move him back, but I'm not aiming, and I never have." e. 4 n ii , new-foun- there's no dispute about Don's y personality." He is acknowledged as going guy whose only problem is his inability to laWWThrthousands of requests that besiege a ballplayer particularly one who plays near his ' home town (Don's is Van Nuys, Calif.). Don's father, a telephone company employee, started Don on the road to stardom as a youngster. "He had me play every position except pitcher," Don recalls. "He felt I'd be a good pitcher, but he didn't want me to throw hard until MP- -' kFF THE FIELD, -- w ...... 1 6-- T-- -- t Turns Good vmltadxJiuLDoiL has blamedJii3hQi.t-fuse- d temper for his failure to measure up to his potential until this year. "I don't think I ever lost any ball games because I got mad," he insists, "and, considering everything I don't know what you mean by not measuring up to my 'potential.' " lifetime "record (up to He believes his 1962) is good "considering everything" By that he means that the "Dodgers have not always backed him (he has a highly respectable 3.30 earned-ru- n average); that he "wasted" four years in "that" park, referring to the "freakish" -- 79-64 Los Angeles Coliseum which handicaps righthanders; and that he has been blamed for every- -' ' by Dodger thing from smog to traffic tie-u"boo birds." ps Dodger Don Drysdale was an darling (see cover) and villain until this season, when he calmed his temper and collected a record year on-fie- ld By JACK RYAN Srpiember 2, pretty fans around Don Drysdale, the Los Angeles Dodger pitcher photographed by Ozzie Sweet, caU him "nice" Batters disagree. Read the story above and decide yourself what kind of a guy Don is. IEONAKD S. OAVIDOW WAUtt C DtEYFUS fATtlOC I. OHOUWCI MOKTON RANK Now 1 read where doctors are treating 'Little League arm' because kids are throwing curves and fast balls too early." Good looks have made Don a favorite with teen-ag- e girls and photographers. The latter, set Don up for a glamour picture with Tournament of Roses princesses several years ago, and one particularly struck his fancy. He asked her out and within six months relinquished the title of "baseball's most eligible bachelor." Don and XJinger Drysdale live near the modest neighborhood he grew up in, but their rambling Hawaiian-styl- e home is equipped with swimming pool, sun deck, game room and a daughter, Kelly Eugenia. Don has appeared in several tv dramas, and a syndicated series on baseball. He admits he is interested in an acting career after his elastic arm snaps. "They say acting is tough work," he comments, "but after baseball I think I could take the hardship. Besides, there aren't as many temperamental people as in baseball." g soul like Don would Obviously, a consider that important. In the meantime, however, no National League batter will tempt charity by sticking his nose too close to the plate "Big D" considers his personal property. three-year-o- ld off-fie- ld COVER: " The an-eas- - peace-lovin- Published Ditirekly During the Summer 1962, Prrtidrnt ad rb1ihrr ')cr I'rfident ftoofd of Ediiorw .4 Advrrtiting Director Dirrrtor of Pubtiiher Krla Snd all odvartiting commwrucaliofit to Family Wtcklf , " ERNEST V. HEYN KEN KARTMAN Editorjn-Chie- Emilin FITZCIBRON M l Editor ROBEtT tinging Editor MARGARET BELL fro turf Editor I Mll I II nvrtTVA Art Dirrrtar MEIANII DE PROFT Food Editor I11' 153 N. Mktuoan Art., Chicago , Ratalyn Abravaya, AraVn Eidcll, Job Mtxhmonn, Hoi AddVttt ell communication obowt dilarial fotvrtl to York N. 56fh 22, 60 London, Jock Ryan; foot J. Opponhoimor, Molly wood. t. E, Nw St., Family Wwkly, Chicago 1, til. AH right mmod. Ifit, FAMILY WltKlY MACA2INI. INC., 153 N. MkKioan , A., |