| Name: | Joseph "Joe" Black |
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Right-handed Pitcher
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| Lived: | 1924 - 2002 |
| Career span: | 1952 - 1957 |
| Hall of Fame? | no |
| Primary teams: | Brooklyn Dodgers 1952 - 1955 |
| Best Year: | 1952: 15 wins, 15 saves, 2.15 ERA |
| Major awards: | NL Rookie of the Year, 1952 |
| Rank on Greatest Players list: | not ranked |
Player Notes: After a career in the Negro Leagues, Joe Black had a fabulous debut with the Dodgers in 1952, winning the Rookie of the Year award at age 28. His victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees was the first ever by an African-American pitcher. But although he had a couple of other decent seasons (in 1953 and 1955), his career did not progress much afterwards. He finished with only 30 career wins and 25 career saves.
Widely admired for his likeable personality, Black was a popular figure in baseball until his death in 2002.