When was roy campanella born

He dropped out of school when he was 16 years old when he was offered a contract in the Negro National League with the Baltimore Elite Giants. He played 10 seasons with the Dodgers , and was selected eight times to the MLB all-star game Campanella broke his neck, fractured his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae, and compressed his spinal cord, injuries that paralyzed him from his shoulders down.

He broke the mold. Because of the mentality of the country, the mentality of baseball, to be black and an MVP meant he had to be head and shoulders above anybody else in the league. Campanella's career lasted until , when he was paralyzed in an automobile accident. I'm going to miss him very much. Son of a Black mother and a father of Italian descent, Campanella was born Nov. He began playing professional ball at age Campanella was cut from the cloth of Negro League legends and blossomed in the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers from to An awesome slugger with flawless fielding skills, Campanella quickly became a star in the major leagues.

He was named Most Valuable Player three times in , and and was instrumental to numerous Dodgers successes. His powerful throwing arm and ability to handle pitchers became his trademark.

Former Jet sports editor A. He often managed clubs he played with in Latin America and he also managed a game in the minor leagues while playing with the Nashua N. Alston had prepared for such an eventuality soon after he became aware of Roy's extensive knowledge of the game and his leadership qualities.

If I'm ever thrown out of a game, I want you to run things. After leading the league in putouts, assists, and errors, Campanella won the MVP award and moved up to Montreal, with the Dodgers' International Team in After winning the MVP title again in , it was not long before he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black catcher to play in the major leagues.

Campanella played for the Dodgers for the next ten years and was acclaimed as one of the best catchers to ever play the game. During his ten-year career, he hit home runs. Tragedy struck in when a car accident left Campanella a quadriplegic. Sadly, his career was over. Campanella wrote his own autobiography, It's Good to Be Alive , in which he describes the drastic changes his accident imposed on his life.

In his memoir, he recollects all the glorious moments he experienced playing the game of baseball and defines the noteworthy qualities a player should possess to play.