Newcombe was also an excellent hitting pitcher, one of the few pitchers in baseball who was used as a pinch hitter. In addition to his pitching abilities, Newcombe was a dangerous hitter as well. Newcombe became an instant star in the majors, going 56-28 with a 3.39 ERA and helping the Dodgers make runs at the National League pennant each of his first three seasons. Newcombe played one season in Japan, splitting time as an outfielder and a first baseman, only pitching in one game. He batted.271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. He batted.271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. This year Newcombe and Campanella, who is a contender for the league batting championship, are Brooklyn's lead horses, the men most responsible for the Dodgers' remarkable improvement over last season. On May 28, 1962, Newcombe signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. In the ’49 Fall Classic, Newcombe appeared in two games against the Yankees, but lost both after allowing four runs in 11 2/3 innings. He batted.271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. He batted .271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. In 81 games, he hit .262 with 12 home runs and 43 runs batted in (RBIs). He was the first African American pitcher to appear in a World Series game. Last year hit .309 with 42 home runs, 136 runs batted in. And though he batted a creditable .319, he had only 15 hits and 16 total bases all season, and only four runs batted in. Karros remained with the Dodgers through the 2002 season and his 12 years with the team are the most of any player on this list. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1988 MLB draft, Karros hit .257 with 23 home runs and 88 runs batted in and easily beat out second-place Moises Alou in the ’92 Rookie of the Year voting. He batted .271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. He batted .271 (the 9th-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. He batted.271 (ninth-best average in history among pitchers), with 15 home runs, 108 runs batted in, 238 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 94 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. Newcombe’s best season was in 1956, but he had one hell of a career on the diamond and was one of the best pitchers in Dodgers history. His fast ball is overpowering, curve sharp, control good. Doby would join him the same year. 36 DON NEWCOMBE, PITCHER: Temperamental but terrific when he's right, this towering right-hander won 15 games by midsummer, finished with 20-5 record. On May 28, 1962, Newcombe signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League.