The empty Champagne bottles were gone, the clear plastic sheets that protected the players’ personal effects were nowhere to be seen and the carpet was miraculously dry (although a bit sticky). The Dodgers celebration of clinching their second consecutive National League West title was now nothing more than a pleasant memory and it was time to get back to work.

But on Friday afternoon something happened in the Dodgers clubhouse, something that went unnoticed by most of the gathered media who were busy once again interviewing individual players with questions like “What does it feel like to be going to the postseason for the first, second, third (or whatever) time?” It was subtle, it was spontaneous and there was no fanfare to it, but it clearly came from the heart.

Dodgers legend Don Newcombe, all 6′ 4″ of him, quietly walked through the Dodgers clubhouse going from locker to locker to congratulated each and every Dodger player for winning the National League West championship. To a man, each Dodger player stopped whatever they were doing or saying to acknowledge and thank the man who, but for his tender 19 years of age, could have been the man Branch Rickey selected to break baseball’s color barrier instead of Jackie Robinson. Some of the players merely acknowledged and thanked Newcombe by shaking his hand, but most embraced him warmly with genuine appreciation.

“He told me that he really wanted to do it,” said Karen, Don’s wife, who waited patiently in the hallway outside of the clubhouse among the many photographs of former Dodger greats that her husband once played with. “He kept apologizing to me, not wanting to leave me alone but said that it was something that he really needed to do. I had to keep telling him ‘Go, go. This is your world, this is your life. Just do it.'”

After assuring Karen that her husband’s kind gesture hadn’t gone unnoticed, she opened up and expressed her gratitude.

“I really hope they appreciated it, it means so much to him,” said Karen. “He loves all of these guys. I just hope they realize that.”

No current Dodger player loves Don Newcombe more that Matt Kemp. They are often seen embracing one another and spend considerable time talking. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

From the overwhelming response that Newk received from the current Dodger players on Friday, many of whom are one-quarter his age, there is no doubt whatsoever that they do realize what it means to the former Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and Most Valuable Player award winner, and they sincerely appreciate him being there.

“He’s a guy we all respect and admire,” said Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. “We all know what he has accomplished, not just in baseball but outside of baseball, during the war and everything.

“Everybody really looks up to him and just love having him around,” added Gonzalez. “I think he’s like a presence that can only make you smile and put you in a good mood. He’s such a positive guy, such a good guy that we all just really enjoy always saying ‘hi’  to him and being able to spend time with him.”

Even at 88 years old there is no place on earth that Don Newcombe would rather be than at Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

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Newk Facts

• Don Newcombe made his MLB debut on May 20, 1949 – a little over two years after Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut on April 15, 1947.
• Former Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey had considered Newcombe to break baseball’s color barrier but was fearful that the 19-year-old Newcombe was too young to face the pressure he knew would come with the move. Rickey chose Jackie Robinson instead.
• To this day Newcombe credits Jackie Robinson for his success – “Jackie Robinson means everything to Don Newcombe. Don Newcombe could not have the life he’s had and the life he has today without him,” Newcombe said. “Wherever he is, I thank him.”
• Newcombe was the 1949 NL Rookie of the Year when he went 17-8 with a 3.17 ERA
• Newcombe was an All-Star in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1955.
• Newcombe missed two years (1952 and 1953) to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
• The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers won 105 games without Newcombe. It is mind boggling to think of how many more games they might have won with Newcombe.
• Newcombe was the 1956 NL MVP (yes, as a pitcher) when he led all of baseball with his 27-7 record.
• Newcombe won the first-ever Cy Young award in 1956 when there was only one for all of baseball.
• Until Justin Verlander did so in 2011, Newcombe was the only pitcher in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young award and a MVP award. Newk is still the only NL player to do so.

For 55 years Dodgers legend Don Newcombe was the only pitcher in baseball history to have won a Cy Young award (1956), Rookie of the Year award (1949) and Most Valuable Player award (1956). Justin Verlander finally accomplished the same feat in the American League in 2011.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

• In addition to his great pitching, Newcombe was also a very good hitter, with a 10-year MLB career batting average of .271, an on-base percentage of .338, a slugging percentage of .367 for a career OPS of .705.
• Newcombe hit 15 home runs during his MLB career and hit two home runs in a game twice during the Dodgers 1955 World Championship season (Madison who?).
• Newcombe himself blames his struggles with alcoholism for cutting short his baseball career. Since becoming sober, Newcombe has been a huge advocate and public speaker against drug and alcohol abuse.
• Today Newcombe serves as a Special Advisor to the Chairman for the Dodgers, along with his former teammate and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.

The Special Advisor to the Chairman with the Chairman himself – Mark Walters.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

• Even at 88 years old Newcombe attends nearly every home game at Dodger Stadium.