Vital Statistics:
Born: Nov. 19, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Died: June 26, 1993
Teams: Brookyln Dodgers (1948-57)
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1969
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary position: Catcher
Career Highlights:
- A three-time National League MVP, he set a single-season record for catchers with 41 homers and 142 RBI in 1953.
- Also starred with the Negro Leagues' Baltimore Elite Giants for seven seasons.
- Career ended because of an auto accident before the 1958 season that left him paralyzed.
- Played in the All-Star Game every year from 1949 through 1956.
- Helped lead Brooklyn to its only championship in 1955.
After Baseball:
- The Dodgers named him an assistant supervisor of scouting and served as a spring-training coach.
- He was the second African-American in the Hall of Fame, after former teammate Jackie Robinson.
