Don Newcombe, pitching star who later led programs to treat substance abuse, dies at 92
Source: Washington Post
Don Newcombe, an early African American pitching star who helped integrate major league baseball and whose struggle with alcoholism led him to become one of the first ex-players to lead a team’s substance abuse program, died Feb. 19. He was 92.
His death was announced by the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he was associated for many years. The immediate cause was not disclosed.
Mr. Newcombe was a Dodgers mainstay alongside black stars Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella on one of the best teams of baseball’s post-World War II heyday. He was major league baseball’s first successful black starting pitcher, helping clear a path for Hall of Famer Bob Gibson and two-time all-star Jim “Mudcat” Grant, among others.
An imposing right-hander at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Mr. Newcombe was the only player to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards before Justin Verlander, then with the Detroit Tigers, matched the feat in 2011.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/don-newcombe-pitching-star-who-later-led-programs-to-treat-substance-abuse-dies-at-92/2019/02/19/3c7e774e-3479-11e9-a400-e481bf264fdc_story.html?noredirect=1&utm_term=.572ac903c6e8&wpisrc=al_sports__alert-sports&wpmk=1
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