Roy Campanella

Roy Campanella was an American professional baseball player who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and 1950s. Born in 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Campanella began his professional baseball career in the Negro leagues, playing for the Baltimore Elite Giants before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946.

Campanella quickly established himself as one of the premier catchers in Major League Baseball, earning eight All-Star selections and three Most Valuable Player awards during his career. He was known for his powerful hitting, exceptional defensive skills, and his leadership on the field.

In 1958, Campanella’s career was cut short when he was involved in a serious car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite his injuries, he remained involved in baseball, serving as a coach and mentor to younger players and working to promote the game in inner-city communities.

Campanella’s contributions to baseball were recognized in 2006, when the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring him as part of its “Baseball Sluggeres” series. The stamp features a portrait of Campanella in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, with the text “Roy Campanella,” and serves as a tribute to his legacy as one of the greatest catchers in the history of the game.