(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers)
IN MEMORIAM
...Don Newcombe...
(1926 - 2019)
(© Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers) |
 Legendary Dodgers-pitcher Don Newcombe passed away
Nederlands
 LOS ANGELES, California (USA) -
For the second time in a short period, the baseball-world mourns the loss of a legendary Major League-player, as former pitcher Don Newcombe passed away on Tuesday (February 19) at age 92 after a long illness.
Twelve days ago, former outfielder and Manager Frank Robinson passed away at age 83.
Newcombe played in ten Major League-seasons and missed two when he served in the military during the Korean War.
Newcombe was the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year Award, the Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player Award in his career.
Newcombe pitched in eight seasons for Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and became one of the greatest pitchers of the club for whom he worked 61 years.
Donald Newcombe was born on June 14, 1926 in Madison, New Jersey.
After having attended high school, he played for Newark Eagles in the Negro National League in 1944 and 1945.
He then was signed by Brooklyn Dodgers early 1946.
Newcombe made his Major League-debut in 1949 pitching for the Dodgers.
With that, he became the third African-American pitcher in the big league, following Dan Bankhead (Dodgers, 1947) and the famous Satchel Paige (Cleveland Indians, 1948).
In his first big league-season, Newcombe was 17-8 for the Dodgers, pitching in 38 games (31 starts).
In 244 1/3 inning, he struckout 149 batters and helped the Dodgers winning the title in the National League.
His strong first season led to a selection for the All Star Game.
With that, he was one of the first four black players who were named to an All Star-team, the others being Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella (both Dodgers) and Larry Doby (Cleveland Indians).
After the season, he was named Rookie of the Year.
The righthander also played for Brooklyn in the next two seasons.
Newcombe (nicknamed Newk) again performed very well.
In 1950, he was 19-11 and a year later, he was 20-9, becoming the first colored pitcher to win twenty games.
In both seasons, he again played in the All Star Game.
Hereafter, he didn't play in the Majors in 1952 and 1953, as he went into military service.
After returning from military service, Newcombe was 9-8 in 1954, his first season back on the mound.
But in 1955, he was 20-5 in 34 games (31 starts) with 143 strikeouts and only 38 walks and he then played in his fourth All Star Game.
1956 was Newcombe's best season, as he dominated the National League.
He closed the season with a 27-7 record with a 3.06 ERA and struckout 139 batters, while walking 46.
Newcombe was named Most Valuable Player of the National League, but he also became the first recipient of the Cy Young Award.
That was first handed out in 1956 after being introduced by then-Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame-pitcher Cy Young, who passed away in 1955.
The Award was originally handed out to the best pitcher in both Major Leagues combined, but since 1967, it is given to the Best Pitcher in both the American and National League.
Newcombe was the first National League-pitcher to win both the MVP and Cy Young Award in the same season.
After the 1957 season, he moved with the Dodgers to Los Angeles.
In the next two seasons, he was less dominating, as he was 11-12 in 1957, then 0-6 in the first half of the 1958 season.
On June 15, 1958, the Dodgers traded Newcombe to Cincinnati Reds for four players and he was 7-7 in the remainder of the season.
He also pitched for Cincinnati in 1959 and 1960.
He got a fine season in 1959 when he was 13-8.
However, on July 29, 1960, he was purchased by Cleveland Indians.
His combined pitching record in 1960 was 6-9.
On January 19, 1961, Newcombe was released by Cleveland.
In his 10-year Major League-career, Don Newcombe was 149-90 with a 3.56 ERA and 1,129 strikeouts.
Newcombe played in three World Series (1949, 1955, 1956) with Brooklyn, all three against New York Yankees.
Brooklyn won the title once, which was in 1955.
Newcombe also was a good hitter, as he batted .271 with 15 homeruns and 108 runs batted in.
After being released in January 1961, Newcombe returned to basebal in 1962 when he signed with Chunichi Dragons in Japan.
There, he was an outfielder and first baseman and pitched in only one game.
In 81 games, Newcombe batted .262 with 12 homeruns.
Newcombe had an alcohol-problem in the fifties and sixties.
He acknowledged that his alcoholism probably contributed to his declining performances in the last years of his career.
Newcombe quit drinking in 1966 and thereafter, he went on to help many people with alchol-problems.
In the seventies, Newcombe returned to the Dodgers where he became Director of Community Affairs.
In March 2009, the former pitcher became the Special Adviser of the Chairman.
Newcombe was almost daily in Dodger Stadium and watched from a suite during home-games of the Dodgers.
...Kenley Jansen posted some photos of...
...him with Don Newcombe on Twitter... |
Kenley Jansen, the Curaçao-born closer of the Dodgers, had a close relationship with Don Newcombe.
The two met almost daily and sit down in the dug-out during batting practice.
In a message on Twitter, Jansen stated:
,,Newk meant a lot to me.
He was my mentor.
He'd always talk to me about how strong I have to be, he spoke to me a lot about mental toughness and physical preparation, running, conditioning.
He'd say be aggresive out there.
He kept me motivated.
These words meant a lot, especially from someone like him who played with Jackie Robinson.
They are why I am here today playing.
I learned so much from this man.
Sitting together, knowing his stories, his storytelling, what he, Jackie and Roy Campanella had to go through for us to be here today.
He taught me about the history of the game.
He talked to me about being a leader.
He talked to me about being a good husband and a good father.
I'll miss sitting with him every day before our games.
Newk was one of the greatest Dodgers.
I am honored for the time I got to spend with him, that I got to sit at Dodger Stadium with him, a legend of this game.
I will miss these moments the most.
My son Kaden loved him very much.
Newk and his wife Karen were with me and my wife Gianni when we got married.
He meant a lot to my family.
Our hearts, our prayers, everything are with Karen and the Newcombe family.
I appreciated all that Karen did for Newk.
Newk, I love you.
You're in my heart forever.
Thank you.''
Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten issued the following statement:
,,Don Newcombe’s presence and life established him as a role model for major leaguers across the country.
He was a constant presence at Dodger Stadium and players always gravitated to him for his endless advice and leadership.
The Dodgers meant everything to him and we are all fortunate he was a part of our lives.''
(February 19)
Related Article:
 Major League-legend, Hall of Famer Frank Robinson passed away. (February 7)
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