Don Newcombe

Trivia

• Newcombe has maintained sobriety since 1967. In his personal and professonal life, he has helped numerous other people in their own battles against substance abuse.
• In March 2009 he was named special adviser to the chairman of the team.
• Newcombe rejoined the Dodger organization in the late 1970s and served as the team's Director of Community Affairs.
• On May 28, 1962, Don Newcombe signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
• He batted .271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases.
• In addition to his pitching abilities, Newcombe was a dangerous hitter as well, having hit seven homers one season.
• In his 10-year major league career, Newcombe registered a record of 149-90, with 1129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA, 136 complete games and 24 shutouts in 2154 innings pitched.
• Newcombe acknowledges that alcoholism played a significant role in the decline of his career.
• He finished with a 2-3 mark in Cleveland before being released to end his major league career.
• He posted a record of 24-21 with Cincinnati until they sold his contract to Cleveland in mid-1960.