Roy Campanella Wins His First MVP Award

On November 1, 1951, the Baseball Writers' Association of America named Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella the National League's Most Valuable Player. It was the first of three MVP awards Campanella would win over a five-year stretch, establishing him as the best catcher in the game.

Campanella hit .325 that season with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs. He carried a Brooklyn lineup that also featured Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, and Pee Wee Reese. The Dodgers won the pennant before losing the World Series to the Yankees in six games.

The award held particular weight given what Campanella had endured to reach the majors. He spent nine seasons in the Negro Leagues, starting with the Baltimore Elite Giants at age 15. When the Dodgers finally brought him up in 1948, he was already 26 and had logged more professional games than most players accumulate in a full career. None of those years counted in official statistics.

Campanella's 1951 MVP marked a turning point for the BBWAA voting. Robinson had won the award in 1949, and now his teammate followed. Black players were not just participating in the National League. They were dominating the ballot. Campanella would win again in 1953 and 1955, each time anchoring a Dodgers team that was among the best in baseball.

His career ended abruptly in January 1958 when a car accident left him paralyzed. But in November 1951, the future was still open, and Campanella stood at the front of it.