Al Campanis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Al Campanis |
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Campanis in 1964
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: November 2, 1916 Kos, Dodecanese Islands, Kingdom of Italy |
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| Died: June 21, 1998 (aged 81) Fullerton, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 23, 1943, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1943, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .100 | ||
| Hits | 2 | ||
| Runs scored | 3 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Alexander Sebastian Campanis (born November 2, 1916 – died June 21, 1998) was an important person in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on the island of Kos, which is part of Greece today.
He played briefly as a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943. He was the first player of Greek background in MLB history. Campanis is best known for being the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He held this job from 1968 to 1987. He was fired after making some comments about black people in baseball during a TV interview.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Al Campanis was born in Kos, a small island. This island was part of Italy when he was born. Today, Kos is part of Greece. His family spoke Greek.
When he was six, his family moved to New York City. He later went to New York University. He graduated from college in 1940.
Baseball Career
After college, Campanis became a professional baseball player. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for several minor league teams. These included the Macon Peaches and Montreal Royals.
In 1943, he played seven games for the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was late in their 1943 season. After that, he joined the U.S. Navy. He served in World War II and became a Chief Petty Officer.
After the war, Campanis returned to baseball. He rejoined the Montreal Royals. In 1946, he played shortstop for Montreal. His teammate was Jackie Robinson, who played second base. Robinson later broke the baseball color line in MLB.
Campanis's last season as a player was 1948. He was a player-manager for the Nashua Dodgers. Dan Bankhead, the first African American pitcher in MLB, played for Nashua that year.
Scouting and General Manager
Campanis later became a scout for the Dodgers. He helped find talented players. He famously discovered future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax.
When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, Campanis moved with them. In 1968, he became the Dodgers' general manager. This meant he was in charge of the team's players and trades.
One of his first trades was sending his own son, Jim, to another team. Under Campanis, the Dodgers played in the World Series four times. They won the World Series in 1981.
Controversial Comments
In April 1987, Campanis was invited on a TV show called Nightline. The show was doing a tribute to Jackie Robinson. This was because it was the 40th anniversary of Robinson's first game. Campanis had played with Robinson and was known to be close to him.
The host, Ted Koppel, asked Campanis why there were few black managers or general managers in baseball. Campanis made comments that suggested black people might not have the skills for these jobs. Koppel gave him chances to explain or change his remarks. However, Campanis repeated his views.
Less than two days later, Campanis was fired by the Dodgers. Many people were upset by his comments. Some wondered if a black coach, Jim Gilliam, had been passed over for a manager job because of his race.
Aftermath and Legacy
The next year, Campanis tried to explain his comments. He said he meant that black people lacked experience in those roles, not ability. He also said he was very tired during the interview. Many people in baseball, including players, supported Campanis.
After this event, Major League Baseball hired a sociologist named Harry Edwards. Edwards worked to increase diversity in leadership roles in baseball. Edwards later said that Campanis called him to offer help. Campanis felt that if his comments led to positive change, it was worth it.
Personal Life and Family
Campanis had two sons, George and Jim. Jim also played baseball.
Death
Al Campanis passed away on June 21, 1998. He was 81 years old. He died at his home in Fullerton, California. He had heart disease. He was survived by his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
