![\"Don](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Don_Newcombe_1955.png\")
\nDon Newcombe<\/p>\n
\nDon Newcombe<\/p>\n
Don was born in Madison, New Jersey, on June 14, 1926, and was raised in Elizabeth. He had three brothers and a sister, and his father worked as a chauffeur.<\/p>\n
Newcombe attended Jefferson High School in Elizabeth. The school did not have a baseball team, so Newcombe played semiprofessional baseball while attending high school.<\/p>\n
During WWII, Don had a very short career in the Army- he was released from service for being under age in 1943, so he tried the Navy with similar results.<\/p>\n
Don, like Dodgers teammate Jackie Robinson, was signed by Branch Rickey from the Negro Leagues and went on to make a huge mark in the major leagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cNewk\u201d was a fierce presence on the mound, a 6-foot-4 and 225-pound bear of a man who stared down hitters and backed up anyone foolish enough to crowd the plate.<\/p>\n
He was a four-time All-Star and won 20 games three different times.<\/p>\n
His greatest year was 1956 when he went 27-7 and won both the Cy Young Award, then only given to one pitcher for both leagues, and the National League MVP award.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Like many ballplayers of his generation, Don lost some prime years to military service, giving the Army the 1952 and 1953 seasons.<\/p>\n
“I served my country,” Newcombe says. “I was going to fight for my country and my flag if I was asked. I didn’t dodge bullets, but I’m proud of my contribution.”<\/p>\n
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Newcombe.<\/p>\n
Hat tip to Hondo. <\/p>\n
Refs: Wiki, GV Wire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"