The Twins’ No. 1 prospect was named the league’s MVP and finished among the league leaders in several offensive categories.
“It’s pretty special,” Lewis said prior to Saturday’s championship game. “I’m just glad my family and friends are able to come out today and celebrate with me.”
For his efforts, Lewis was presented with the Joe Black Most Valuable Player Award. The award was first presented in 2002 and is in honor of Black who was a lesser-known Dodger in the early 1950’s.
No Dodger prospect has ever won the prestigious AFL award since its inception in 2002. However, when I learned of the award back in 2016, named in honor of Joe Black, I was prompted to look more closely at Black to see why he would be chosen to have the award named after him.
I remember when he debuted with the Dodgers in 1952, which is the same year that I debuted as a Dodger fan. I remember him from listening to Dodger broadcasts out of Brooklyn with Vin Scully – the voice of all voices – calling the games. I debuted on April 19. Joe debuted on the first day of May.
The rest of the article is a repost of the article I had previously written (ThinkBlueLA) re: Joe Black in December of 2016. It is one of, if not the favorite article I have ever written along with a Jim Gilliam article.
Joe Black was born and raised in Plainville, New Jersey. His family was very poor, but he was a good student and a gifted athlete which earned him a scholarship to Morgan State University, a black liberal arts college in Baltimore, Maryland. He obtained a degree before he was drafted into the Army in 1943.
During his army time, Black’s duties were such that he was able to continue to play baseball with the Baltimore Elite Giants. Described as strapping, the 6’2’/220-pound right-hander, continued to play in the Negro Leagues following the war knowing that Jackie Robinson had a blazed a trail that he hoped to follow.
While Joe Black does not have the illustrious career of Jackie Robinson as an African American player in a time when only six major league clubs accepted men of color, he endured the same struggles. He was told more than once that, “Colored guys don’t play baseball.” On more than one occasion he had to endure the chant, “Old Black Joe” emanating from the opponent’s dugout.
Sometime later he said: “I pitched my greatest games in miserable ballparks, in the colored league, with nobody watching.”
He was scouted and signed by the Dodgers in late 1950 and spent the 1951 season with the Montreal Royals and St. Paul Saints – both AAA clubs – in the Dodgers farm system where he posted a combined ERA of 3.28 and won 11 games.
Following his 1951 season, Black returned to Cuba for the 1951-52 winter season where he simply dominated. He led the league in winning percentage, wins with 15, 78 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.42. He had captured the pitching Triple Crown in Cuba while once again playing for Cienfuegos, the same team that Yasiel Puig would play for a half-century later.
Joe Black, at age 28, as previously mentioned debuted with the Dodgers on May 1, 1952, pitching a scoreless inning. His season was all he could have dreamed for and more. He dominated out of the bullpen and was chosen Rookie of the Year after winning 15 games and saving 15 others for the National League champions. He posted a 2.15 ERA while his total of 142 innings pitched left him eight innings short of winning the league ERA title.
During the regular season with the Dodgers Black started on only two occasions. Manager Chuck Dressen wanted to use him as often as possible and called upon him 56 times during his 1952 rookie year. In some outings, he pitched to a batter or two while on other outings he threw four, five, even six innings.
The Dodgers met the ever-bothersome New York Yankees in the World Series again and Dodger fans saw Joe Black used in a completely different role. He started three of the seven World Series games. In the first game of the series, he bested Yankees famed Allie Reynolds giving up two runs in nine innings for a 4-2 victory.
With that all-important win, Black became the first African-American MLB player to win a World Series game. It is for that reason that the Arizona Fall League has honored him by naming the MVP award after him.
In both of his other World Series starts in 1952, Joe Black took the loss. In Game 4 he gave up but one run on three hits over seven innings in a 2-0 Dodger loss. In Game 7 he gave up three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings in a 4-2 loss.
Joe Black’s first year as a Dodger was the highlight of his short six-year career, three of them with the Dodgers. In 1955 he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and finished his career with the Washington Senators in 1957.
As a youngster, I had always wondered why Joe Black never had another year like 1952. I supposed it was due to injury but there is another perhaps more plausible explanation.
Things started to go downhill for Black beginning in spring training 1953. Dodger manager Chuck Dressen believed Joe Black could be more than good. He felt the big right-hander would be almost invincible if he added another pitch to his arsenal. Dressen decided Black needed “more stuff,” including a curveball that was physically impossible for him to throw thanks to his finger tendons.
Black threw a good fastball and had an out pitch, a breaking pitch that would now most likely be called a slider. It was a tight, hard slider but did not satisfy Dressen.
Joe Black went along with the experiment and probably had no choice in the matter. It totally messed with his mechanics and destroyed his once indomitable confidence. His career had been derailed but Black never complained about it or placed any blame for the decline in performance.
At the time of his debut in MLB Joe Black was a bit of a rarity. Len Coleman, the last National League president, who became close friends with Black explained: “Let’s face the facts: When Joe went to the Majors, he was rare,” Coleman said. “Joe graduated from college, and there weren’t many who had college degrees.” At age 33 his baseball career was ended prematurely but it was then time for him to put that education to work.
Following his career in baseball, Joe Black continued to impact lives. For a period of time, he taught school in his hometown of Plainville. He later became an executive with Greyhound in Phoenix becoming the first African-American vice president of a transportation corporation while working for Greyhound.
Joe Black was never far removed from baseball. He remained in baseball through his affiliation with the White Sox and Diamondbacks as well as with the commissioner’s office, where he consulted with players about career choices.
Above all Joe Black continued to be an advocate throughout his life. Along with Joe Garagiola, they served as the driving forces behind the inception of the ongoing Baseball Assistance Team program, which serves former players who need help dealing with financial, psychological or physical burdens.
Remembering his struggle to reach MLB and the opportunities it gave back, he played an important role in helping Negro League players gain benefits and health insurance as extended by Major League Baseball Commissioners Fay Vincent and Bud Selig. His job was to determine who had played in the Negro Leagues, when and on what team. Without records, it was difficult to know who might qualify for the benefits, perhaps impossible without Black’s help.
“Records were somewhat questionable,” Coleman said. “But Joe knew everyone.”
Jerry Reinsdorf invited Black to speak to the White Sox one Spring Training, mostly to the young players, about distractions they would face off the field. Serving as an unofficial ambassador for the game, Joe encouraged players to have a business plan for life.
Joe Black, a friend of Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens, along with countless others, lost a battle with prostate cancer on May 17, 2002. In reading about Black, he is reminiscent of another Dodger who also is a big man who walked softly and spoke wisely and touched all those that he met. That would be Dodger legend, the late Don Newcombe.
Black’s death surely touched those who knew him.
“He was a Dodger, but he was a giant of a man,” former NL president Len Coleman said. “He was the greatest friend, and his loss leaves the world a lot more empty.”
A nickname of “No. 1” was bestowed upon Black by Coleman because everybody knew “He was my No. 1 guy.” That opinion of Black was shared by many.
“I’m telling you, everyone that came into contact with Joe Black considered him a personal friend,” Jerry Reinsdorf said. “He was the ultimate goodwill ambassador and never met someone he didn’t want to help.”
“His legacy is the thought that unheralded players can rise to the heights, that someone who at the time was considered an ordinary athlete could wind up pitching Game 1 of the World Series,” said Vin Scully, who was the Dodgers’ play-by-play announcer in Joe Black’s first game in MLB in 1952.
Joe Black’s daughter, Martha Jo Black, along with Chuck Schoffner has chronicled her father’s life as a baseball player and especially as a father in a collaborative effort in their book Joe Black: More than a Dodger, which was published in February of 2015.
“Dad’s biggest thing was helping people. He would try to uplift people and help them. And he thought education was the most important thing in life besides air and breathing.”
“For me, personally, I wanted people to know that black men are good fathers and there were good fathers in the African-American community before [President Barack] Obama and Cosby,” said Martha proudly of her dad. “My dad did everything. He did my hair … and he was very happy to scare off boys. He was my father, and he was my best friend.”
Great story about an amazing person and a really good baseball player. Excellent read.
Loved the story and Joe Black, though I never saw him pitch. I grew up in Central New Jersey, and Joe was from Plainfield, not Plainville.
DC, you always have great history lessons for us. Thank you!
Thank you DC for a wonderful story about a wonderful young man. I always enjoy your writings.
I have been a fan of DC’s stories and player expose’s for several years now. As I have often stated, Larry Sherry was my first Dodger hero, and my first long term favorite was Junior Gilliam. Gilliam is still in my top five Dodger favorites of all time. #19 was my first jersey. I bring up Gilliam because DC refers to his article on Gilliam in this outstanding Joe Black article. DC wrote an article on Junior in April 2016, a copy of which I keep in my files. That is when I first became aware as to how good of a researcher and writer DC was/is, and became a huge fan of DC’s. I went on to have discussions with him that summer when the Great Lakes Loons were on their way to a championship behind the likes of Caleb Ferguson and Leo Crawford and too many others to name, including s short time of Walker Buehler.
Mark called me in February, 2017 and asked me if I wanted to write for LADT. I am not a writer, and my love was the Minor Leagues. Mark promised any subject matter, never subject to edit, and I thought back to DC’s article on Junior and his other countless and equally impressive exposes on Dodgers of yesteryear and future heroes. And that is what enticed me to begin this journey. I thought that I would try to emulate DC’s niche and also try to bring more understanding of the MiLB players. Like DC, I was not only enamored with the “can’t miss” prospects, but also those that nobody knows about.
We all like to anticipate what the MLB team will do, and those get a lot of play in replies. But stories like Joe Black make us remember where we came from as Dodger fans. We can all go back and see what a wonderful player Black was, but it is the information outside of baseball that DC delivers that makes his stories so interesting and meaningful. I cheat because I know who he is going to write about next week, and I cannot wait to read it. Maybe some day he will share the Junior Gilliam story, but it is his to share.
Thank you to DC for all of his stories, and Joe Black will be at the top of my list with Junior.
There is a second point I wanted to make. I did not get a chance to comment on Mark’s post of yesterday. Mark has been doing this for a loooooong time, and as I told him when we spoke on Monday night, I cannot begin to understand how he continues to come up with ideas as quickly and often as he does. It is not easy. It is a lot easier when you have a very thick skin to ward off all of the arrows cast your way, as Mark has. I am not as well gifted in that arena. It is remarkable to have that kind of love for such an endeavor to keep it going for as long as he has and as well run as it is. But sometimes life calls us to take another path or direction. And Mark has more than earned that opportunity.
Mark says he is down to 2 days a week (Tuesday & Sunday), and with 2D2 (Monday), and DC (Wednesday) filling in once a week, that leaves three days. I will do my best to write more posts as this is the toy department of my life right now. But I cannot commit to three days a week, and Mark was not even close to asking me to do so. In fact he was not looking for any commitment. But there are several posters on this site who are capable of writing an article. It does not have to be on a regular basis. It can be once or twice or as often as you like. You might even get to like it. You might not. But if you have any interest you will never know if you do not try. If anyone is interested, reach out to Mark.
Now AF, go out and make a dope-fiend move and sign Gerrit Cole.
Russ Martin will be back inn2020!
Makes too much sense for LAD to re-sign if he is willing to accept a 1 year deal. I love the veteran presence, but no reason to block Keibert Ruiz with more than a one year deal.
Is this a prediction or a confirmed statement Mark?
Jon Heyman reported earlier he would be back with the Dodgers. Then he changed it to just not retiring. At the time I wrote it I was under the assumption he had an agreement with the Dodgers.
There’s a pretty strong likelihood he will sign with LA… in my opinion.
That’s a smart move. I really like Martin, he may not always hit, but when he does, it’s in the clutch.
But, isn’t Barnes out of options now? There’s no way they’re gonna waste that 26th roster spot on 3 catchers?!?!
I’m getting some interesting sound effects with the written commentary. Is anyone else getting the same bathroom sounds I am getting? Sounds like someone is having fun with the site.
Question on Joe Black. Chuck Dressen thought he needed another pitch, a curveball. But Joe had problems perfecting it because of his finger tendons. What does that mean? Is it a “grip” problem?
AC good comments and look forward to your postings in the future.
DBM – There is a bit of confusion with which pitch Dressen wanted Joe Black to master. Another article has it as a change up. The pitch is not important. The reality was that Joe was throwing what his fingers allowed him to throw and very successfully with good control. You are right – his fingers didn’t allow him the grip he needed for another pitch.
This from another source:
“Dressen wanted to make Black a starter after he saw what Joe did in the World Series. He tried to teach Black the change up, but Joe had a problem with his hand. Joe didn’t have normal muscular control of his fingers, and he couldn’t raise either index finger. He tried to master the change up, which requires the pitcher to lift two fingers, but there were problems. Joe continued to try, but the effort affected his fastball. He lost his pinpoint control.”
As one of the older members of this site I always appreciate these posts that remind me of things that most on here were not even born when they happened. Some I really liked were not stars, but for some reason I really liked them. ( Shotgun Shuba, Joe Pignato, Billy Loes, Preacher Roe,etc.) I usually don’t like former Giants, but Sal (the barber) Maglie and Jeff Kent were two .. I am on this site at least a couple of time daily. Thanks to all who post and especially to Mark for making it available. (I am also getting those weird sounds!)
SCDodger – Your comments got my juices flowing… Joe Pignatano lived walking distance for me in Manhattan Beach… He rented a small bungalow from Carl Furrilo… I spent a little time here n there yakking with Joe about catching…
Speaking with Furrilo was like watching paint dry…
I really thought you’d get a few negative comments uttering the name Jeff Kent…
He was one of my favorites!!! He came to play every game… He didn’t like the press and that’s OK… I hope he finds his way to the HOF some day..
Thank you DC.
Signing Martin was a good move. He can mentor Smith and give Smith a rest when needed. He will not block Ruiz? He is probably one year away.
For Mark…..so, will you still be available to comment, answer questions (as I see you already are), and monitor the site behind the scenes. I surely hope so as you do it so well.
I will be commenting. You can’t get rid of me that easily! 😉
Wow I’ve been reading some trade possibilities that the Dodgers might do and some of them are coming from legit baseball reporters and I’m not liking what I’ve been reading.
So to heck with the luxury tax, Friedman should ignore the luxury tax and get the best available free agents that addresses the Dodgers needs. No more of these 2nd rate acquisitions. We have enough 2nd rate relievers on the team right now. We also don’t need another Kershaw type, you know the best days are behind him type in the starting rotation just because he’s a veteran. No offense to Kershaw.
I really think that the big right handed power bat that “the Dodgers need” is overblown. In my opinion the Dodgers have several young position players that are in the process of maturing as hitters. Instead of replacing 1 or more of them, just let them mature and fix or improve the overall pitching staff.
Again ignore the luxury tax Friedman and just go for the best available free agents that addresses the Dodgers needs and if you come up short of what you need in free agency then make a trade or 2.
Priority #1 Free agents Cole and Strasburg. Go after both and if you land 1 great, if you land both even better.
Priority #2 Free agents Will Harris and Will Smith. Just like the above names, if you land 1 great, if you land both even better.
Priority #3 Trade for Ken Giles, 1 year left on his contract so a trade won’t cost much.
Priority #4 Trade for Aaron Bummer. If the Dodgers fail to land enough of the above names then trade for his 5 year team control contract, but it will cost in a trade. This one just depends on getting enough of priorities 1-3 done or not.
It is not Friedman’s decision whether or not to go over the luxury tax threshold.
The Nats won with Scherzer whom they signed as a FA, but it took 4 or 5 years. They drafted Strasburg. Corbin was a middle-range signing and guys like Kendrick, Dozier, and Suzuki were Dollar General signings who produced. Mix in some rookies and BANG!
They simply out-executed the Dodgers. BTW, Clayton Kershaw is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in the World Series. Justin Verlander is 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA. I guess they are both bums.
Priority #5 Trade for Kris Bryant to play 3B moving Turner to 1B, Muncy to 2B, Lux to SS. I’d be willing to trade Josiah Gray, Jeter Downs, and Mitchell White.
Either use Seager off the bench as a pinch hitter or trade him for relief pitching.
What’s up with this article from Ken Gurnick on the Dodgers website titled Predicting Dodgers’ 2020 Opening Day roster?
He’s got Kolarek as a lock to make the Dodgers 2020 roster. Does he not know about the new 3 batter minimum rule?
He has Beaty as only a possibility of making the roster, not a lock. WTF?
Can somebody explain this to me, and I quote “The club heads into the offseason with Bellinger the likely center fielder, Pederson in right field (if he isn’t traded) and Verdugo at least platooning in left field with A.J. Pollock.”
Verdugo platooning with Pollock? Not Pederson platooning with Pollock?
I generally find Gurnick to be fairly reliable but I think this column was ghost written by someone who isn’t very familiar with the Dodgers.
Kolarek might be back but he certainly isn’t a lock. (Maybe Venditte can teach him how to throw right handed).
Indicating that Pederson would be the every day right fielder (no platoon) is ludicrous.
Beaty isn’t a lock to make the 2020 roster out of camp, but the odds are certainly very heavily in his favor.
I think we may find out that Gurnick’s post was hacked. It seems like the only explanation.
Sources? Gurnick is a nice guy. I have talked with him a lot, but…
I don’t think there’s much reliability with predictions this time of the year. I hate to even speculate about platoon partners with Joc when it looked so clear cut last offseason that Joc and Kike would be platoon partners.
Here’s a look back at last year’s MLBTR predictions. I think Barnes had a higher batting average than MLBTR’s predictions.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2019.html
My guess is that Joc follows the Puig method and they sell high if they can find takers. Cleveland seems to have a surplus of pitching so AC’s favorite Kluber might make some sense. A lot more sense than a Lindor SS swap. Who trades a shortstop for another shortstop? Gary Templeton, Ozzie Smith? Crazy to see that twice in a lifetime…
Another great read DC! I wasn’t that familiar with Joe Black, but I’m grateful I know him better now! Thank you.
As a kid living in SoCal, Jim Gilliam and Charley Neal were the guys I waiting to see in L.A. Of course my one true hero being a catcher was to see Campy play!!! But alas an auto accident in 58 took that dream away…
1959, L.A. Coliseum at a game with my Dad and my best friend Spider… Told my Dad were going to sneak down to get a better look at the players in the batting cage and infield drills… It was then Spider and I layed eyes on Frank Howard… What a giant of a ballplayer and he could play… Even though we got Claude Osteen, still a bad trade in my mind…