Dolph Camilli
| Dolph Camilli | ||
|---|---|---|
Runs batted in | 950 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
Adolph Louis Camilli (April 23, 1907 – October 21, 1997) was an American
Major league career
Born and raised in
In March 1938, Camilli was traded to the Dodgers in a move that new general manager Larry MacPhail hoped would spark a change in the team's image from lovable losers to solid contenders. He drove in 100 or more runs in four of the next five seasons, being named an All-Star in 1939 and 1941 and becoming team captain. He also led the National League in walks in 1938 and 1939, but in the latter year became the first player to have three 100-strikeout seasons. In 1941, he again led the league with 115 strikeouts and also surpassed Rabbit Maranville's National League career record of 756. He also set career-highs in home runs (34) and runs batted in (120), leading the league in both categories and earning Most Valuable Player award. However, in the 1941 World Series, he batted just .167 with only 1 run batted in as the Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees in five games.
In
In a 12-season career, Camilli posted a .277 batting average with 239 home runs and 950 runs batted in during 1490 games played. After leading the National League in errors in both 1934 and 1935, and setting a record with three errors in one inning in 1935, he improved his defense and later led the league in assists and fielding percentage once each. He recorded a .990 fielding percentage playing every inning in his major league career at first base. He also ended his career with 961 strikeouts, more than any player except Babe Ruth (1330) and Jimmie Foxx (1311); his National League record of 923 was broken by Gil Hodges in 1958. Among his career highlights was recording the last out of Ruth's career.
Later life
Following his playing career, Camilli returned to the Pacific Coast League and managed the Oaks and
Camilli was inducted into the Dodgers Hall of Fame in 1984, and recalled of his fans, "All they cared about was their family, their job and the Dodgers. And I don't know which one was the most important."
In an article in 1976 in Esquire magazine, sportswriter Harry Stein published an "All Time All-Star Argument Starter", consisting of five ethnic baseball teams. Camilli was the first baseman on Stein's Italian team.[5]
Camilli died in San Mateo, California at age 90. He was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- Dodgers Award Winners and League Leaders
- List of athletes on Wheaties boxes
- List of members of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
- Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
References
- ^ a b "The Ballplayers – Dolf Camilli" Archived August 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
- ISBN 9781785312977.
- ^ Trezza, Joe (February 2, 2017). "Who are the top 5 all-time players from San Francisco?". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Dolph Camilli". Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Stein, Harry (July 1, 1976). "All-Time All-Star Argument Starter". Esquire.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Baseball Almanac
- Dolph Camilli at Find a Grave
