Donald Newcombe
June 14, 1926 – February 19, 2019
First African-American to win the Cy Young Award as the top pitcher in Major League Baseball
Donald Newcombe, commonly known as “Newk,” had a distinguished career in Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) with teams such as the Newark Eagles, Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. His legacy in the sport is marked by several historic achievements:
- He was the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Cy Young Awards during his career, a feat not matched until 2011.
- In 1949, he became the first black pitcher to start a World Series game.
- In 1951, Newcombe became the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a single season.
- In 1956, the inaugural year of the Cy Young Award, he became the first pitcher to win both the National League MVP and the Cy Young in the same season.
Besides his pitching prowess, Newcombe was an outstanding hitting pitcher, maintaining a career batting average of .271 with 15 home runs. He was even utilized as a pinch hitter, a rarity for pitchers.
Donald Newcombe’s journey began in Madison, New Jersey, where he was born on June 14, 1926, and raised in Elizabeth. Despite his high school not having a baseball team, he played semi-professional baseball during his high school years.
He started his professional career with the Newark Eagles in the Negro National League in 1944 and 1945. Afterward, he signed with the Dodgers and played for the racially integrated 1946 Nashua Dodgers of the New England League alongside Roy Campanella.
Newcombe’s MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 made him the third African American pitcher in the majors, following Dan Bankhead and Satchel Paige. He excelled, winning Rookie of the Year honors and making significant contributions to the Dodgers’ league pennant win.
In 1950, he won 19 games, followed by 20 wins in 1951, leading the league in strikeouts that year. His career took a brief pause due to mandatory military service during the Korean War, but he returned to form in 1955, helping the Dodgers secure their first World Series title.
The 1956 season was particularly remarkable for Newcombe, as he achieved a record of 27–7, was named the National League MVP, and received the first-ever Cy Young Award.
Following his time with the Dodgers, he had brief stints with the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. Unfortunately, his career faced challenges due to alcoholism.
In 1962, he ventured to Japan, signing with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played one season in Japan, primarily as an outfielder and first baseman, with minimal pitching involvement.
In his ten-year MLB career, Newcombe accumulated impressive statistics, including a record of 149–90, 1,129 strikeouts, and a 3.56 ERA. He was also known for his batting skills, hitting seven home runs in the 1955 season.
After retiring from professional baseball, Newcombe returned to the Dodgers organization in various roles, contributing to community affairs and serving as a special adviser.
Donald Newcombe was honored with induction into the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals in 2016 and became part of the inaugural class of “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019.
In his personal life, Newcombe had three marriages, and he dealt with alcoholism during the 1950s and 1960s. However, he successfully overcame his struggles with alcohol, leading a more positive life and helping others combat substance abuse.