Don Newcombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Newcombe |
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Newcombe in 1955
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 14, 1926 Madison, New Jersey |
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| Died: February 19, 2019 (aged 92) Los Angeles, California |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1944, for the Newark Eagles | |||
| MLB: May 20, 1949, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| NPB: June 23, 1962, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 1, 1960, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| NPB: October 9, 1962, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 153–96 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.54 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,183 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 12 | ||
| Runs batted in | 43 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Donald Newcombe (born June 14, 1926 – died February 19, 2019), known as "Newk", was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in both the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB). His teams included the Newark Eagles, Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians.
Newcombe made history as the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Cy Young Awards in his career. This amazing achievement was not repeated until 2011. In 1949, he became the first black pitcher to start a World Series game. He was also the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a single season (1951). In 1956, he won both the National League MVP and the first-ever Cy Young Award.
Newcombe was also a great hitter for a pitcher. He had a career batting average of .271. He hit 15 home runs and was sometimes used as a pinch hitter, which was very rare for pitchers.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Donald Newcombe was born in Madison, New Jersey, on June 14, 1926. He grew up in Elizabeth with his three brothers and a sister. His father worked as a chauffeur.
Newcombe went to Jefferson High School in Elizabeth. Since his school didn't have a baseball team, he played semi-professional baseball while still in high school. This helped him develop his skills early on.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Negro Leagues
Newcombe began his professional career with the Newark Eagles in the Negro National League. He played there briefly in 1944 and 1945. After that, he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization.
Newcombe and catcher Roy Campanella joined the Nashua Dodgers in 1946. This team was the first racially integrated baseball team in the United States in the 20th century. He played for Nashua in 1947 before moving up to the Montreal Royals in 1948.
Breaking Barriers in MLB
Newcombe made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 20, 1949. He was the third African American pitcher to play in the major leagues. He quickly helped the Dodgers win the league pennant. He earned 17 victories and led the league in shutouts. He also pitched 32 scoreless innings in a row.
In 1949, Newcombe was one of the first four black players chosen for an All-Star team. His teammates Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella, along with Larry Doby, were also selected. Newcombe was named Rookie of the Year by two major baseball organizations.
Peak Performance and Awards
In 1950, Newcombe won 19 games, and then 20 games in 1951. He also led the league in strikeouts in 1951. He pitched in a famous playoff game between the Dodgers and the Giants at the end of the 1951 season.
After serving two years in the military during the Korean War, Newcombe returned to baseball. He had a tough season in 1954, but bounced back strong in 1955. He finished second in the National League with 20 wins and a 3.20 earned run average. That year, the Dodgers won their first World Series championship in team history.
Newcombe had an even better season in 1956. He won 27 games and had a 3.06 ERA. He also pitched five shutouts and 18 complete games. He led the league in winning percentage for the second year in a row. For his outstanding performance, he was named the National League's MVP. He also won the first-ever Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher in the major leagues. He was the only player to win MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year awards until 2011.
Later Career and Retirement
When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Newcombe struggled at the start of the 1958 season. He was then traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds until mid-1960, when his contract was sold to the Cleveland Indians. He finished his major league career with the Indians.
In 1962, Newcombe played one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons. He mostly played as an outfielder and first baseman, only pitching in one game. He hit .262 with 12 home runs and 43 runs batted in (RBIs) in 81 games.
Over his ten-year major league career, Newcombe had a record of 149 wins and 90 losses. He recorded 1,129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA. He also completed 136 games and pitched 24 shutouts. As a hitter, he had a .271 batting average with 15 home runs and 108 RBIs.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Newcombe rejoined the Dodgers organization in the late 1970s. He worked as the team's Director of Community Affairs. In 2009, he became a special adviser to the team's chairman.
Newcombe was honored for his contributions to baseball. He was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2016. In 2019, he was part of the first group of "Legends of Dodger Baseball."
Personal Life
Don Newcombe was married three times. He had three children: Don Jr., Kelley Roxanne, and Brett Anthony.
President Barack Obama once spoke about Newcombe at an event. He called Newcombe "someone who helped... America become what it is."
Newcombe passed away on February 19, 2019, at the age of 92, after a long illness. He is buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles.
See also
- List of first black Major League Baseball players
- List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
