Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921 – June 26, 1993), nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily as a catcher. The Philadelphia native played for the Negro leagues and Mexican League for several seasons before moving into the minor leagues in 1946. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 1948. His playing career ended in 1958 when he was paralyzed by an automobile accident.Widely considered to have been one of the greatest catchers of the history of the game, Campanella played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and 1950s. After his playing career, Campanella held positions in scouting and community relations with the Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
November 19, 1921, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died
June 26, 1993, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Height
5' 8" (1.73 m)
Profession
Writer
Education
Simon Gratz High School
Children
Roy Campanella II
Awards
National League Most Valuable Player Award
Star Sign
Scorpio
#
Quote
1
I never want to quit playing ball. They'll have to cut this uniform off of me to get me out of it.
2
You have to have a lot of little boy in you to play baseball for a living.
#
Fact
1
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 94-96. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
2
Made major league debut on 20 April 1948.
3
Pictured on one of four USA 39¢ commemorative postage stamps honoring Baseball Sluggers, issued 15 July 2006. Other stamps in this set honor Hank Greenberg, Mel Ott, and Mickey Mantle.
Played with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues before joining the Dodgers.
7
Was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, 1953, and 1955.
8
Was paralyzed from the neck down as a result of an automobile accident in January of 1958; never walked or played baseball again. Showed tremendous courage and was an inspiration to others who suffered the same fate.
9
Was regarded as the best catcher in baseball during his time.
10
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1969. Played for the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers, 1948-1957.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
It's Good to Be Alive
1974
TV Movie book
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Greats of the Game
1985
TV Series
Guest
1980 MLB All-Star Game
1980
TV Special
Himself - NL Honorary Captain
It's Good to Be Alive
1974
TV Movie
Himself
The Kraft Music Hall
1968
TV Series
Himself
The Twentieth Century
1964
TV Series documentary
Himself
Celebrity Talent Scouts
1960
TV Series
Himself
Lassie
1959
TV Series
Himself
Person to Person
1953-1959
TV Series documentary
Himself / Himself - Baseball Player
The Ed Sullivan Show
1953-1957
TV Series
Himself
1956 World Series
1956
TV Series
Himself - Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher
1955 World Series
1955
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher
Roogie's Bump
1954
Himself
The Name's the Same
1954
TV Series
Himself
1954 MLB All-Star Game
1954
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
1953 World Series
1953
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher
What's My Line?
1953
TV Series
Himself - Mystery Guest
1953 MLB All-Star Game
1953
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
1952 World Series
1952
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher
1952 MLB All-Star Game
1952
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
1951 MLB All-Star Game
1951
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
1950 MLB All-Star Game
1950
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
1949 World Series
1949
TV Series
Himself - Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher
1949 MLB All-Star Game
1949
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Perfect Game
2009
Himself (uncredited)
Prime 9
2009
TV Series
Himself
The Bronx Is Burning
2007
TV Mini-Series
Himself
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes
2006
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Baseball
1994
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
When It Was a Game
1991
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1958
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
It's Good to Be Alive (1974) as Writer
Roogie's Bump (1954) as Himself
1980 MLB All-Star Game (1980) as Himself - NL Honorary Captain
$16 Million
