Early on Thursday, the Dodgers announced via Twitter that the team would be adding a patch to the team’s 2019 uniforms, reading “36”, to honor the legacy of the late great pitcher, Don Newcombe.
Newcombe, 1955 World Series champion and Dodger legend, passed away just a few days before the announcement of the commemorative patch at the age of 92. ‘Newk’ was the first African-American pitcher to play in a World Series game, and won the very first Cy Young award in 1956 to pair with his NL Most Valuable Player award in that same year.
Off the mound, Newcombe also played at a high level. The Dodgers often used Newcombe in pinch-hitting situations during his eight seasons with the club. Over those eight seasons, in 657 at-bats, Newcombe swatted 11 home runs to the tune of a .265 average.
Alongside his dazzling playing career, Newcombe also served two years in the United States military during the Korean War, stepping away from Major League Baseball during the ’52 and ’53 seasons.
Both a legendary ballplayer and an American hero, Newcombe will be honored with a ceremony on April 27th when the Dodgers will face the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers will giveaway Don Newcombe bobbleheads to a select number of fans upon entering the stadium before the game that evening, and will add Newcombe’s jersey number, 36, to the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor prior to the game.