What Really Happened In The Roy Campanella Car Accident?

On January 28, 1958 a near tragedy struck, as Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella was involved in a serious car accident, leaving him almost fully paralyzed. In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how the incident would forever change Roy Campanella’s life and the Dodgers franchise.

After spending ten seasons playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Roy Campanella finally made his Major League Baseball debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 20, 1948, one year after Jackie Robinson broke the modern day color barrier in the sport. Campanella’s impact on the Dodgers was immediate, becoming a regular starter as catcher for the team by July 1948, a position he would hold for most of the following decade. Over the next few years, Campanella continued to play at an elite level, earning eight all star appearances from 1949 through 1956, while also earning three MVP awards in 1951, ‘53, and ‘55. His multi-MVP run, cemented Campanella as one of the great catchers of his era. ESPN even ranked him as the fifth best catcher of all time, only behind Johnny Bench, Josh Gibson, Yogi Berra, and Carlton Fisk. The 1955 season would become arguably the highlight year of Capanella’s career, after not only earning his third MVP award, but also helping the Dodgers finally get over the hump of winning a World Series title. The Dodgers had previously come up short in the ten World Series appearances before that, earning the franchise an underdog, blue collar appeal that matched the attitude of the local Brooklyn fans who followed the team. The afterglow of the World Series title would be somewhat short-lived however, as the team’s owner Walter O’Malley announced in May of 1957, that the Dodgers would be moving west to Los Angeles for the start of the 1958 season.

For all the accolades Campanella received on the field, he kept pretty busy off the field as well. He owned and operated a liquor store in Harlem, New York, about 25 miles from his home in Glen Cove. On the night of January 28, 1958, Campanella locked up his store just before 1am and got into his rented 1957 Chevrolet sedan. His everyday car, a ‘58 Chevy wagon was being serviced at the time, so it was unavailable to him. Just as Campenella was nearing the end of his trip back home, he apparently began to fall asleep behind the wheel. At 3:34 in the morning, his car hit an icy patch on the road.  A suddenly awoken Campanella stepped on the brakes, which caused the ‘57 Chevy sedan to skid off the street and collide with a telephone pole. The car also managed to flip over during the skid, breaking Campanella’s neck in the process. He later recalled laying in the driver seat, wanting to turn the car ignition off, worrying that the car might catch on fire. But after attempting to reach the car keys, he realized he had no feeling in his arms or legs, and so he just laid there. After being rushed to the hospital, it was revealed that he suffered a compressed spinal cord, and fractures to his fifth and sixth vertebrae. The traumatic incident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, putting a permanent end to his playing days in baseball.

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After the accident, Campanella found ways to remain active in the sport that he loved. He was hired by the Dodgers as an assistant supervisor for scouting for the club in 1959, while also helping mentor up and coming catchers in the Dodgers farm system. On a memorable night, on May 7, 1959 the Dodgers held a special celebration of Campanella called, “Roy Campanella Night”. The New York Yankees actually agreed to fly to Los Angeles, and play the Dodgers in a one-off exhibition game. The event was held in front of a record crowd of 93,103, the largest ever crowd to watch a Major League Baseball game at that time. But most importantly, all of the night’s proceeds went to help Campanella’s medical expenses. Ten years after that special night at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Campanella was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. He became only the second black player inducted to the hall of fame, after Jackie Robinson was the first to be inducted in 1962. And speaking of Jackie Robinson, in 1972, both Robinson, Campanella, and Sandy Kofax, all had their jersey numbers retired by the Dodgers organization in the same ceremony together.

Campanella would later move to California to continue working with the Dodgers, and would spend the rest of his life connected to the franchise. Campanella’s life post-accident became a testament to the power of perseverance, as he continued to contribute to baseball, becoming a mentor, coach, and symbol of hope for those facing adversity. His story remains a poignant reminder of the human capacity to triumph over adversity with grace and resilience.

So what did you guys think about the car accident that tragically ended Roy Campanella’s playing career? Do you agree with ESPN ranking him as the fifth best catcher of all time? Where would you place him? Let me know in the comments below!