On March 30, 1966 Don Drysdale Sets Record
1966: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, who led the Los Angeles Dodgers to the world championship last season, have defied baseball by bargaining collectively. The two pitchers sought three-year contracts worth $500,000 each. Today, they end their 32-day holdout.
Koufax, who was 26-8 and struck out a record 382 batters last season, signs for $125,000, a raise of $40,000. Drysdale, who was 23-12, receives $110,000, a raise of $30,000. They are baseball’s two highest paid pitchers and trail only Willie Mays in salary.
New York columnist Red Smith will write: “Koufax and Drysdale defied the name of the game by trying to bargain collectively and by bringing in a lawyer to talk for them. Under the law, coal miners may bargain collectively, but not ballplayers. Under the law, a rape-murderer must have legal counsel, but not a ballplayer.”
About The Author
