Don Newcombe leaves Dodger Stadium for hospital after feeling ill

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

LOS ANGELES -- Don Newcombe, baseball's first player to win rookie of the year, most valuable player and the Cy Young Award, is resting comfortably after being taken to a hospital from Dodger Stadium, the team said Tuesday.

The 89-year-old special adviser to the chairman left the ballpark on Monday night, according to the Dodgers, who did not disclose his condition. The team said only that he became ill before the game that night.

Newcombe remains a regular presence in his suits and fedora at the stadium. He has served as special adviser since 2009.

Newcombe pitched for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1949-51 and 1954-58 after missing two seasons while serving his country during the Korean War. He was one of the first blacks to play for the franchise, along with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella.

He had a record of 149-90 with 1,129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA. Newcombe was a four-time NL All-Star and pitched in three World Series.