ROY CAMPANELLA·1949

The summer Campy arrived for good. Twenty-two homers and twenty-two doubles from a catcher's frame, eighty-two men waved home from a crouch. Brooklyn found its everyday force behind the plate, hitting .287 with a .385 eye, and the borough started believing. The man who'd waited years for his shot now swung like he owned the joint. Three stolen bases, just for spite. The Dodgers had their anchor. And the cartoons? They're just getting warmed up.

EVERYDAY FORCE

Campy arrives as Brooklyn’s everyday catcher — the borough finally has its anchor behind the plate.

22 & 22

Twenty-two homers and twenty-two doubles from a catcher’s frame — breakout star summer.

CAMPY INK

Scorebook starts writing “Campy” in ink — the nickname sticks because the bat does.

Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1949. Bowman Gum / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (US).