Big Newk

[DODGER DEB]

On June 14th, DON NEWCOMBE celebrated his 81st birthday, which I neglected to post, and I am sorry for that.:bowdown:

WE all hope NEWK had a wonderful day, and will have many happy returns of the day.

If anyone has any "NEWK" stories, or comments, please share them with US.

c.

[strummer]

Big Don has delusions of granduer sometimes. He is the only player to be Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young winner. He believes that that distinction should put him in the Hall of Fame. He is wrong.

[DODGER DEB]

It, no doubt, has never occurred to him that winning some of "the big ones" would have made that more attainable.

c.

[ColtscorrAL]

It, no doubt, has never occurred to him that winning some of "the big ones" would have made that more attainable.

c.

I think if he would have played in the era of relief, whether you need it or not, pitching he would have had more left for those games in September and October. :twocents:

[The Real McCoy]

In addition to his intimidating presence on the mound, he was a very tough out at the plate. And after conquering his own demons, he helped a lot of people, off the field, after he retired. Happy 81, Newk.

[crzblue]

happy belated 81st birthday Newk! He is always neatly dressed at Dodger Stadium and always sporting his hats. I remember reading that when D.Lowe joined the Dodgers, he said to NewK "you get dressed up for us?" He is a good spearer. I attended an event where a bridge was being named after him at a Golf club in Downey. they also named another bridge after Maury Wills that day. Tommy Davis and Sweet Lou were in attendance.

[DODGER DEB]

In addition to his intimidating presence on the mound, he was a very tough out at the plate. And after conquering his own demons, he helped a lot of people, off the field, after he retired. Happy 81, Newk.

While I absolutely agree with that, Judge, I still have this vision of those two homers sailing well over the rightfield fence by Yogi in the seventh game of the 1956 World Series. I was late getting to the game that day, and as I walked up to the top of the ramp, his first HR was the first thing I laid eyes on, as it went over the fence onto Bedford Avenue.

c.

[metrotheme]

Don Newcombe @ Brooklyn Cyclones Game Yesterday

Yesterday I attended the Brooklyn Cyclones game where they had Don Newcombe Bobblehead day. Newcombe was also there signing autographs. Alou was playing on rehab assignment for the Mets.

It was my first time at the stadium for a game.

It seemed like 20-30 people were waiting by the dugout specifically for Alou, as they announced the day before in the newspaper that he'd play there for a game. Like 10-15 minutes before game time, Alou comes to the corner of the dugout and signs for a few minutes. I managed to squeeze my way in there and get him on his 1990 Fleer Rookie Card that has Chuck McElroy on it.

Newcombe was a totally different animal. He was charging $10 per autograph and part of it was going to charity. The line was seemingly 300 people deep. I went to get on the line and they had closed the end of the line already. While I was walking back, a guy was showing off an old Dodger book that he had signed by many old Dodgers (quite a few deceased). I saw it, stopped, joined a conversation with them and just wound up staying there in line.

The actual experience of getting Newcombe's autograph was lacking. The line was moving slowly, and he didn't even look up to acknowledge a hello. The agent handed him the item (1957 Dodgers Poster), they moved you to the other side, he signed it and gave it to you and that was it. I initially asked him a question about Biz Mackey who was his HOF catcher in the Negro Leagues. His agent said he couldn't answer any questions. He wouldn't even respond or look up to a thank you. I know that alot of sessions are set up like a meat market (get them in and get them out) but being I just paid for your autograph, a hello / thank you would suffice. I mean maybe he was tired, or he was told not to engage in conversation to keep the line moving, but again a little courtesy would have been nice.

I could imagine the madness if he was signing for free, although nobody really complained that he was charging (usually at these appearances, the signings are free).

The game was pretty good too, nice place to see a game.

[D6+]

I was at the Brooklyn Cyclones game against the Jamestown Jammers back on July 8. That was the day Ralph Branca threw out the first pitch and signed autographs. The line in order to get Ralph Branca's autograph was very long as well. For that reason, I decided not to attempt to get his autograph that day because I likely would have missed much of the game. I don't think that there was an autograph fee to get Ralph Branca's autograph other than having a game ticket to gain entry into Keyspan Park. Though I'm not certain of this.

[metrotheme]

Yeah, I waited almost the first 4 innings. The people in the line turned me off though. Some of those people were so THIRSTY for his autograph and I had a kid in line pointing out the dealers. I can imagine it was worse with Branca being that it was free.

[penncentralpete]

in 1955 don newcombe won 20 games and lost only 5. that's only part of the story. that summer, newk hit 7 HR's, drove in 23, and batted .359. look at those numbers. let it sink in. got it? AMAZING! pete

[D6+]

Yeah, I waited almost the first 4 innings. The people in the line turned me off though. Some of those people were so THIRSTY for his autograph and I had a kid in line pointing out the dealers. I can imagine it was worse with Branca being that it was free.

I'm not sure if it's logistically feasible. But a much better way from a fan perspective to get autographs from former Dodgers players on some Brooklyn Cyclones gamedays would be to start the autograph session 2 hours before the start of the game.

[D6+]

in 1955 don newcombe won 20 games and lost only 5. that's only part of the story. that summer, newk hit 7 HR's, drove in 23, and batted .359. look at those numbers. let it sink in. got it? AMAZING! pete

This makes me wonder if the Dodgers might have been better off converting Don Newcombe into a daily position player, much like the Red Sox did with Babe Ruth in 1919.

[metrotheme]

He came up through the Negro Leagues as a pitcher first / hitter second. He probably became a good hitter in part because in the Negro Leagues, when you weren't pitching, alot of the time you were playing the field, so he probably had a lot more at-bats against quality pitching than his ML counterparts at a young age (he was like 18-19 when he played in the Negro Leagues).

I don't think so because he was such a strong pitcher and where would they have put him?

Would he have upstaged Hodges at first (where Newcombe played when he went to Japan) or Snider / Furillo in the outfield?

[D6+]

Though a strong case can be made that Don Newcombe's value as a pitcher exceeded would he could have provided as an every day position player, it's probably one of those questions that there never will be a clear cut answer.

One key to the decision making process was could have Newcombe been an asset as a fielder? Based on the composition of the Dodgers roster, LF probably would have been the every day position worth trying him at, if any.