Don Newcombe passed away at 92. He was a civil rights pioneer, a 27 game winner, and a durable and often overpowering pitcher, who was one of baseball’s greatest hitting pitchers. He had back-to-back years with 20-5 and 27-7 records, and in one of those legendary years, hit seven homers and batted 359. He had a lifetime won-loss percentage of .623, and a lifetime batting average of 271. Don Newcombe, was the first of only two players in baseball history to win Rookie of the Year (in 1949), and the Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award honors (in 1956); the other player is Justin Verlander.
After spending two years in military service, Newcombe returned to baseball in 1954, disappointed to find that various aspects of baseball, including team road trips were still subject to segregation. He and Jackie Robinson spoke out successfully to help lift a number of racial barriers. Late in his career, when faced with a drinking problem, he successfully turned his life around to give up drinking, and, in retirement, became baseball's foremost counselor for players in their battles against alcohol and substance abuse.
He was truly a great competitor (in so many respects), and a craftsman, and I was lucky enough to witness several of his pitching and hitting masterpieces.
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