Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers was selected as the National League MVP on November 27, 1953. It was Campanella’s second time taking home the trophy; in 1955, he did so a third and final time.

Campanella hit.312/.395/.611 with 26 doubles, 41 home runs, 142 RBI, and a 154 OPS+ in the 1953 season, his sixth with the Dodgers. The catcher had a successful campaign after struggling with several injuries the year before.

His RBI led the National League that season and remained the record for catchers until 1970. Campanella was hit by a pitch in Game 1 of the World Series, which hindered his ability to contribute to the Dodgers’ second straight NL pennant.

After that, the Yankees won their sixth consecutive World Series after defeating the Dodgers in six games. In the Fall Classic, Campanella went 6-for-22 with a home run, two RBI, and two walks.

Tragically, in January 1958, Campanella was injured in an accident that ended his playing career. As a result of their relocation to Los Angeles, he was not given the chance to play for the team.

In his 1,215 career games, Campanella hit.276/.360/.500 with 178 doubles, 242 home runs, and 856 RBI across ten seasons with the Dodgers. From 1949 to 1956, he was an eight-time All-Star, and he assisted in leading the team to five NL titles and one World Series.

In June 1993, Campanella passed away at the age of 71.

The Roy Campanella AwardEvery year, the Dodgers give the Roy Campanella Award to a member of the team “who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher” in remembrance of their beloved catcher.

The Dodgers uniformed staff votes for Freddie Freeman to be the newest recipient of the distinction. The fact that Freeman was the Dodgers’ first-season Roy Campanella Award winner speaks to his instant effect.

The award was given out this year to Justin Turner; it was originally given out in 2006.