Interview with Donald Newcombe, May 4, 1976

Partial Transcript: It wasn't until 19, actually '49 when I was brought up to the Dodgers, because all you knew when you were a baseball player in the minor leagues...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe gives his impressions of Happy Chandler as a commissioner of baseball and shares his personal feelings about Chandler.

Keywords: camaraderie; newspapers; organization; racism in baseball; suspension

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Durocher, Leo, 1906-1991.; Major League Baseball (Organization); Minor league baseball.; Newcombe, Don, 1926-; Newspapers.; Racism; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; United States. Congress. Senate.

Partial Transcript: And if you can play baseball you'll be an asset to, to, uh, all baseball and to Branch Rickey to go ahead and do what he had to do...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe reflects on the integral role that Branch Rickey played in the integration of African American players into Major League baseball, especially related to Jackie Robinson.

Keywords: "America's pastime"; "God fearing"; "all-American"; Jackie; contracts; pressure; racism; recruiting; signing by Branch Rickey; skill in baseball; talent; votes

Subjects: African American baseball players; African Americans--Sports; Baseball; Baseball commissioners; Baseball team owners; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Major League Baseball (Organization); Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Racism; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: In, in, in that sense that the owners are responsible for the commissioner being there, because they are the ones that hire him.

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe reflects on how Chandler ran the Major Leagues, how he interacted with owners and how he made decisions. He discusses how Chandler came to be the commissioner of baseball.

Keywords: Jackie; black players; pressure; racism; retaliation; senators

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Baseball managers; Baseball players; Baseball team owners; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Integration; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; United States. Congress. Senate.

Partial Transcript: And, uh, Jackie of course, uh, did the job that had to be done but, in the process...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe discusses the pressure put on Jackie Robinson to succeed and the risks that Branch Rickey and Happy Chandler took in allowing him to play.

Keywords: Jackie; black men; contracts; integration; job discrimination; job termination; pension plans; pressure; racism

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Baseball team owners; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Racism; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: So what he did and the stand that he made in helping Jackie get into baseball and then in the further sense, helping the players...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe reflects on Chandler's influence on the changes that happened in baseball during his commissionership, as well as the positive effects that he had on other players, their careers and himself.

Keywords: Baseball Hall of Fame; Chandler; baseball players; organization; pension plans

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball players; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Major League Baseball (Organization); Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.; Pensions--Law and legislation

Partial Transcript: Which would be only an honor, that's about all it is, the same way with me. I feel that in my own heart...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe discusses the chances of his entering into the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Happy Chandler.

Keywords: Baseball Hall of Fame; baseball awards; baseball honors; pitcher awards; player awards; voter conditions; voting

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Baseball players; Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.; Pitchers (Baseball); Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: Yes, uh, I recall in a World Series game that Jackie, and Jackie was the kind of man in later years...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe talks about how Chandler dealt with Jackie Robinson and some of the other African American players. He talks about the relationship that Chandler had with Jackie Robinson.

Keywords: World Series (1949); clubhouses; commissioners; pressure; taunting umpires; umpires

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Pitchers (Baseball); Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: Jackie did a lot of things that um, that weren't the right thing to do but that is the kind of man that he was.

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe talks about Jackie Robinson's character, both as a player and a person.

Keywords: Jackie Robinson as a player; athletics; baseball; baseball players; dugouts; player attitude; suspension; umpires

Subjects: Baseball commissioners; Baseball managers; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; National League (Major League Baseball); Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: Jackie was the factor. He was the primary factor in why all of it was happening, and remember...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe talks about the pressure that Chandler and Rickey endured from 1946-1949 because of signing and playing Jackie Robinson. He talks about the reaction of the rest of the league to these two men, and their support of Jackie Robinson.

Keywords: Brooklyn; Montreal; baseball players; baseball strikes; bigots; integration; opposing teams; petitions; pressure; racial segregation; racism; reputation; spring training

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Baseball managers; Baseball players; Baseball team owners; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Chapman, Ben, 1908-1993; Durocher, Leo, 1906-1991.; Major League Baseball (Organization); Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; Walker, Dixie, 1910-1982

Partial Transcript: It, it, it, um, it just makes me believe and it makes me see now that since I lived in this era and seen what happened then and how it's happening now...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe reflects on the greater implications of African Americans being allowed to play baseball in the Major Leagues, its social implications, and the beginnings of the civil rights movement.

Keywords: civil rights; dues; racial segregation; segregation; social segregation; struggles

Subjects: African American baseball players; African Americans--Civil rights; Baseball players; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Integration; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; Major League Baseball (Organization)--History

Partial Transcript: Let's talk a little bit about your career. Uh, was it 1944 you pitched in the Negro Leagues?

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe discusses the general conditions when he played in the Negro National League and how he first came to it. He remembers his first interaction with a Brooklyn Dodgers scout and eventually with Branch Rickey. He reflects on the decline of the Negro National League because of Major League Baseball.

Keywords: 1944-1945; All Star Team; Brooklyn Brown Dodgers; Clyde Sukeforth; Elizabeth (N. J.); Richmond (Va.); baseball player salaries; baseball scout; compensation; contracts; expenditures; high school drop outs; recruiting; scouts; signing with Branch Rickey; spring training; team budgets

Subjects: African American baseball players; African American baseball team owners; Baseball players; Baseball team owners; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Ebbets Field (New York, N.Y.); Irvin, Monte, 1919-; Manley, Effa, 1897-1981; Negro National League.; Negro leagues; Newark Eagles (Baseball Team); Pitchers (Baseball); Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965

Partial Transcript: 46, I was signed about a week after Jackie was signed. Roy Campanella and I both were signed...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe remembers the prejudice that he and other African American players faced when they were brought in from the negro leagues. He remembers interacting with Branch Rickey and his owing him 1,000 dollars.

Keywords: 1947; 1948; Bobby Morgan; Branch Rickey, Jr.; Brooklyn Brown Dodgers; Buzzie Bavasi; Chuck Connors; Duke Snyder; Jack Banner; Montreal Royals; Nashua; New England League; Sam Jethro; San Diego team; baseball player salaries; equality; racial prejudice; signing by Branch Rickey; winning record

Subjects: African American baseball players; Boston Braves (Baseball Team); Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Discrimination.; Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Minor league baseball.; Pitchers (Baseball); Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: Me and my headstrong self, I didn't know what Branch Rickey was up to, so when that game was over, I told, uh Buzzie...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe remembers quitting the Montreal Royals and later asking to come back. He reflects on his attitude as a player and what that attitude cost him. He also discusses playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Keywords: Bert Shotton; Billy Cox; Bull Pen; Buzzie Bavasi; Chuck Diering; Montreal Royals; New York; Roosevelt Field; Sam Jethro; attitude; shut outs; strike outs

Subjects: Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Chicago (Ill.); Cincinnati (Ohio); Major League Baseball (Organization); Minor league baseball.; Pitchers (Baseball); Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; Rookie baseball players; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: I, I, I thought then and I still do this is the greatest man, uh, that I have ever come in contact with.

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe discusses Branch Rickey and other manager-player relationships he had. He describes the good relationship he had with Branch Rickey, and how the relationship that they had was uncommon between most baseball managers and players.

Keywords: Buzzie Bavasi; Chuck Dressen; Walter Alston; baseball players; character; general managers; personality

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball players; Baseball team owners; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965

Partial Transcript: The same manager to player relationship, he, he was an old man, and a very reserved man, a very nice man and uh, he was the kind of man...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe recalls Burt Shotton asking him to pitch a double header against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Keywords: 1950 Philadelphia Double Header; Burt Shotton; Clyde Sukeforth; Dan Bankhead; Robin Roberts; double-headers; manager-player relationships; pennant

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball managers; Baseball players; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Philadelphia Phillies (Baseball Team); Pitchers (Baseball); Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: Oh, I'm asked many times what was the best game you've ever pitched in your career...

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe reflects on pitching in the 1949 World Series and playing in Brooklyn.

Keywords: "Howling Hilda"; 1949 World Series; Brooklyn fans; Hilda Chester; baseball fans; first base line; losing by 1; pitching

Subjects: African American baseball players; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Ebbets Field (New York, N.Y.); Pitchers (Baseball); Reynolds, Allie, 1915-1994.; Rookie baseball players

Partial Transcript: In 1949? Yes, Jackie Robinson had an all star team. Uh, Roy Campanella, myself and Larry Doby were the, were the stars.

Segment Synopsis: Newcombe remembers an all star team that he played for with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella, among other negro league all stars. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: 1949-1950 all star tour; African American fans; all star teams; negro league baseball players; racial segregation

Subjects: African American baseball players; Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Doby, Larry; Negro leagues; Racism; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; Segregation