Don Newcombe
First pitcher to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young; first black pitcher to start a World Series game.
Donald Newcombe (June 14, 1926 – February 19, 2019), nicknamed "Newk", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played ten non-consecutive seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He began his career in the Negro National League and ended it in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Quick Facts
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats
- Left
- Throws
- Right
- Born
- 14 June 1926
- Birthplace
- Madison, New Jersey, U.S.
- Died
- 19 February 2019
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Debut league
- NgL
Facts from the source article.
Background
Newcombe was the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Cy Young Awards during his career. In 1949, he became the first black pitcher to start a World Series game. In 1951, he was the first black pitcher to win 20 games in one season. In 1956, he became the first pitcher to win the National League MVP and the Cy Young in the same season. Newcombe was an excellent hitting pitcher who compiled a career batting average of .271 with 15 home runs.
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