If you're old enough to remember the Dodgers championship years of the 1960's or even if you've only seen highlights of those teams on television, close your eyes and work with me. A vision just popped into your mind. It's a tall, burly, fierce looking man standing on the mound at Dodger Stadium. The 6'6" hurler is looking at you with a sneer as you step into the batter's box. Your job is to hit the ball off of him, but all you can think of is getting out of there with your health in tact.
On July 2, 1963, chances are that the hitters in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup were thinking those type of thoughts as they faced Dodger Hall of Famer Don Drysdale on a Tuesday night in Chavez Ravine. 1:48 minutes after the game started, the Cards headed back to their clubhouse as 1-0 losers to Drysdale and the Dodgers.
Drysdale gave up only five hits on the game, all singles, as he earned the first of three complete game shutouts he'd register in a season that ended with the Dodgers winning their second World Series title in five seasons. Drysdale was especially effective against the heart of the Cards' lineup, holding three-four-five hitters Dick Groat, Bill White and Ken Boyer to one hit in eleven at bats with three strikeouts.
The Dodgers certainly didn't do much better against cagy Cards' starter Curt Simmons, but Ron Fairly's two out RBI single in the seventh scored big Frank Howard from second base with the only run of the game. The win gave the Dodgers a half game lead in the National League standings over the Cardinals. The Dodgers would never surrender their lead and would eventually win the National League title by six games.
Drysdale's complete game shutout was one of six the Dodgers would registger over their next ten games, with the team going 9-1 in that stretch.
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