Remembering Former Dodger Great, Don Newcombe
- Updated: February 21, 2019
Don Newcombe, the final link between the Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Dodgers and a key member of the 1955 World Championship has passed away at the age of 92.
He was known as Newk, a fierce 6’4 220-pound flamethrower was the third black pitcher to enter the major leagues behind Don Blankhead and Satchel Page and was known for his dominance and impact after Page and before Bob Gibson. Newcombe played in the Negro Leagues before joining the Dodgers after Jackie Robinson broke the color-barrier in 1947. In 1949, Newcombe made his major league debut and won the Rookie Of The Year award, with a 17-8 record.
A four-time National League All-Star, in 1956 a year after the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series, Newcombe posted a 27-7 record with an amazing 3.06 ERA, winning the league’s MVP and Cy Young award, a first for a pitcher to accomplish this feat.
His career was interrupted in 1952 and 1953 due to service in the US Army serving during the Korean War. Compiling a 149-90 record over a great career. In 1958 after the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, Newcombe played three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and ended his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1960.
I had the honor and the pleasure to have had several conversations with Mr.Newcombe. My first encounter was a casual meeting in a mall, I saw him and had to introduce myself and politely asked for a moment of his time. Without hesitation, he was pleasantly courteous and willing to talk. I was shocked that No one recognized that a piece of baseball and American history was standing in next to me. At this moment, I had to briefly acknowledge who I was and who he was and what he meant to me as a Dodger fan, a baseball fan and a guy that knew his background.
The first thing I asked him was about his time in the Negro Leagues. His answers were just amazing and he was delighted when he spoke of his times and some of the players that he had the pleasure to have played with and against. I had to ask him about Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. Smiles were on his face the whole time they were mentioned. The most interesting thing was the way he expressed the joy of playing in the majors and the impact that would change the course of the history of the game of baseball.
My second meeting was again in the mall, and once again no one recognized him, but he knew and called me by my name, and we had another lengthy conversation. For the second time, he was just out by himself and we walked and talked about the good old days of baseball. He was amazed by my knowledge of his accomplishments and the game of baseball. He told me that I should consider becoming a sports writer or a detective because of my investigative manned and interviewing skills.
This was the last time I spoke with him, and at the end of this meeting, I thanked him for his time and what he meant to me and the game of baseball. He laughed and told me that It was his pleasure to have spoken with me.
When we look back at the game of baseball, there are players that have been overlooked by the baseball’s Hall Of Fame. Don Newcombe should have been considered years ago. He was known for always helping people off the field and helped anyone in need. He was very caring, respectful, kind, and a great gentleman.
The CaliSports staff would like to send our deepest condolences to the Newcombe family, the Los Angeles Dodgers and to Dodger fans everywhere on the loss of a baseball icon. Thank you, Mr. Newcombe, for your time on and off the field, your contributions to Civil Rights and the conversations that I will remember always.
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