Roy Campanella
Born: 1921
Grew up in: Philadelphia
Quotes:
"From the start, catching appealed to me as a chance to be in the thick of the game continuously." -Campanella
"You got to be a man to play baseball for a living, but you got to have a lot of little boy in you too."-Campanella
Hitting skills/Achievements
1951-won MVP; .325 batting ave. 33 Homers, 108 RBI
1953-won MVP; .312 batting ave. 41 Homers, 142 RBI (led league,) and scored 103 runs
1955-won MVP; .218 batting ave. 32 Homers, 107 RBI
Defensive Achievements
By the mid 1940's he was being compared to the great Josh Gibson, for best catcher in the Negro Leagues
Career
He managed to win five pennants in ten years
Other
Injuries: Spring Training of 1954-chipped bone in his left hand. Hit .207 in 111 games.
1956-Previous injury (in 1954) had caused nerve damage.
1957-As a result of hand injury hitting declined
Paralyzed in car accident between the winter of 1957-1958 and never played again; was confined to a wheelchair
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1969.