43. Roy Campanella
One of the best players to come out of the Negro Leagues, and one of the first black players signed by Branch Rickey, Roy Campanella was a true star whose career was cut tragically short when he was paralysed due to a car accident following the 1957 season.
After playing half a season with the Dodgers in 1948, Campanella established himself as a star for the rest of his career. He made seven All-Star games and won the MVP award three times. A dominant offensive force, he hit over thirty home runs four times and led the National League with 142 RBI in 1953.
A career .276/.360/.500 hitter with 242 home runs and 856 RBI, Campanella was able to only give a glimpse of the type of player he could have been. Had he been able to play in the Majors from the beginning, and had his career not been cut short, he could have ranked even higher among the greatest players in MLB history.
Campanella was more than just an offensive force. Running against him was a risky proposition at best, as he led the league in caught stealing percentage in each of his first four seasons. His 57.4% caught stealing is the best ever in baseball, and he never finished worse than fourth in any season. He was also perennially among the league leaders in range factor and putouts, showing a stellar all around game.
One of the first African American stars in the Majors, Roy Campanella belongs in the discussion for the best catcher in MLB history. Had he been able to enjoy his full career, that may not even be a debate.
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