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Don Newcombe

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Donald Newcombe (born June 14, 1926 in Madison, New Jersey), nicknamed "Newk", is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher and left-handed batter who played for the Dodgers teams (Brooklyn, 1949-51, and Los Angeles, 1954-58), Cincinnati Reds (1958-60) and Cleveland Indians (1960).

Newcombe was the first outstanding black pitcher in major league history. A 6'4", 225-pound fireball thrower, he is also the only baseball player to have won the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards.

After played one season with the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, Newcombe signed with the Dodgers, debuting for Brooklyn on May 20, 1949. He immediately helped the Dodgers to the league pennant as he earned 17 victories, led the league in shutouts, and pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings. He was also among the first four black players to be named to the All-Star team, along with his teammates Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella and the Indians' Larry Doby. Newcombe was named Rookie of the Year by both The Sporting News and the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 1950 he won 19 games, and 20 the following season. He also led the league in strikeouts in 1951.

After two years of military duty during the Korean War, Newcombe suffered a disappointing comeback season in 1954, going 9-8 with a 4.55 ERA, but returned to form the next year by finishing second in the NL in both wins and ERA, with marks of 20-5 and 3.20, as the Dodgers' "Boys of Summer" finally won the World Series. He had an even greater 1956 season, with marks of 27-7, 139 strikeouts, and a 3.06 ERA, 5 shutouts and 18 complete games, leading the league in winning percentage for the second year in a row. He was named the National League's MVP, and was awarded the first-ever Cy Young Award, then given to the single best pitcher in both major leagues.

Following the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles, Newcombe got off to a slow 0-6 start in 1958 before being traded to the Reds for four players in midseason. He posted a record of 24-21 with Cincinnati until they sold his contract to Cleveland in mid-1960. He finished with a 2-3 mark in Cleveland before being released to end his major league career.

In his 10-year major league career, Newcombe registered a record of 149-90, with 1129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA, 136 complete games and 24 shutouts in 2154 innings pitched. In addition to his pitching abilities, Newcombe was a dangerous hitter as well. He batted .271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases.

On May 28, 1962, Don Newcombe signed with the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese League, becoming the second American player, after Wally Kaname Yonamine, to play professional baseball in Japan.

Highlights

  • Rookie of the Year (1949)
  • National League MVP (1956)
  • First MLB Cy Young Award (1956)
  • 4-time All-Star (1949-51, 1955)
  • Led league in shutouts (5, 1949)
  • Led league in strikeouts (164, 1951)
  • Led league in wins (1956)
  • Won 20 games three times (20, 1951-1955; 27, 1956)
  • Twice led league in winning percentage (1955-56)
  • 3-time hit 2 home runs in a game (April 14, May 30, 1955; September 19, 1956)
  • Only NL pitcher of the 1950s to steal home (May 26, 1955)

See also

http://www.fergiejenkinsfoundation.org

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