Today marks the conclusion of this year’s Black History Month.
But even with the month coming to an end, it’s still very important to remember some of the greatest African-American athletes of all time.
After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, several other greats followed in his footsteps.
Don Newcombe was one of them.
He began his professional career with the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, but joined Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949.
His best season came in 1956, when he won 27 games and claimed the inaugural National League Cy Young Award.
On Twitter, MLB took a moment to remember the dominance of Newcombe.
With a remarkable 27-win season, Don Newcombe, the first Black Ace, won the inaugural Cy Young Award in 1956. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/hZ1PBtYOMj
—MLB (@MLB) February 27, 2023
The video features several highlights from Newcombe’s legendary career, as well as snippets of interviews with Newcombe and several of his former teammates.
In the video, Newcombe discussed what winning the first ever Cy Young Award meant to him.
His response was simple, that it meant he was the best pitcher in all of baseball at the time.
Don Drysdale also commented on Newcombe’s dominance in 1956, discussing how “pinpoint” his teammate was as a pitcher.
In addition to his 27 wins, Newcombe worked 268 innings on the mound and struck out 134 batters, posting a 3.06 ERA in 36 starts and two relief appearances.
The Dodgers clinched the pennant on the last day of the season in ’56.
They fell short against the New York Yankees in the World Series, but Newcombe’s dominance lives on in Dodgers history.
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