Dolph Camilli
| Birthdate | 4/23/1907 |
| Death Date | 10/21/1997 |
| Debut Year | 1933 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox |
| Position | First Base |
From 1936-1942 Dolph Camilli posted a .941 OPS and 152 OPS+; he received MVP votes in 7 seasons and earned the award in 1941.
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In 1941 Dolph Camilli led the Dodgers to their first pennant in more than two decades
In 1941 Dolph Camilli led the Dodgers to their first pennant in more than two decades
Dolph Camilli enjoyed a 12-year big league career that spanned from 1933-1945. His finest years came in Brooklyn. Traded to the Dodgers just before the 1938 season, Camilli hit 24 homers and drove in 100 RBI in his first year with the Bums.
His first five seasons in Brooklyn Camilli averaged more than 100 walks per year, pacing the Senior Circuit in ’38 and ’39. In 1941 his Dodgers earned their first pennant since 1920.
Camilli led the way with a league leading 34 homers and 120 runs batted in. For his efforts, Camilli was selected the NL Most Valuable Player.
A popular figure in Brooklyn, Camilli was the franchise career leader in homers from 1942-1953.
In the collection is this 1939 Playball card autographed by the ’41 MVP.
In the offseason Camilli played against barnstorming Negro Leaguers
In the offseason Camilli played against barnstorming Negro Leaguers
Despite the color barrier, Negro Leaguers often faced off against their MLB counterparts. These contests took place in the off-season and helped augment the income of the players involved.
Shown here is a lineup of Negro League stars called the Philadelphia Royal Giants. They squared off against Dizzy Dean’s All Stars on October 31, 1935. Satchel Paige started the game against a star-studded lineup.
PCL legend Jigger Statz played centerfield and led off, Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan batted third and played shortstop.
NL home run champion and four-time All Star Wally Berger hit behind him in the cleanup spot. Dolph Camilli who won the 1941 NL Most Valuable Player Award played first and hit 5th while Cooperstown hurler Dean got the start on the hill.
Ole Diz faced a batting order that included three men who went on to get their Cooperstown plaques: Turkey Stearnes, Mule Suttles, and Biz Mackey. The Cardinals hurler went 7 innings, giving up five hits and a pair of runs.
Satchel struck out 7, allowed two runs on two hits, and left with a no-decision after four innings. The MLB crew pushed across three more runs off of Chet Brewer to gain a 5-4 victory.
Camilli went 0-for-4 on the day.
Five men have adorned their signatures to the lineup including Paige, Vaughan, Camilli, Berger, and Tuck Stainback.
Camilli’s signature can be found along the left side of the image.
Dolph Camilli was one of the NL's most dangerous hitters of the mid-'30s through the early-'40s
Dolph Camilli was one of the NL's most dangerous hitters of the mid-'30s through the early-'40s
Slugger Dolph Camilli had seven-year run in which he was one of the best hitters in the National League. From 1936-1942, he averaged 27 homers and 102 RBI.
Six of the seven seasons he received votes in MVP balloting, winning the award in 1941. That season under the direction of Hall of Fame manager Leo Durocher, the Dodgers earned their first pennant in more than 20 years.
Shown here is Camilli’s vintage signature on a government postcard.
Government postcards are a favorite medium of autograph collectors
Government postcards are a favorite medium of autograph collectors
Fans often sent penny postcards like this one to their favorite players in hopes of gaining an autograph. Today these remain a desirable medium of collectors because of the postmark.
This was mailed from Dayton Beach and postmarked January 17, 1948. Camilli was a willing signer throughout his life and lived to be 90 years old. Though his signature is plentiful, vintage examples such as these remain highly desirable.
A year after retiring Dolph Camilli returned to the bigs when the rosters were depleted in WWII
A year after retiring Dolph Camilli returned to the bigs when the rosters were depleted in WWII
After six years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Dolph Camilli developed quite a hatred for the cross-town New York Giants. When the Dodgers packaged him in a five-player trade with their revals at the 1943 trade deadline, Camilli elected to retire rather than report.
According to his obituary in the New York times , Camilli said, “I hated the Giants. This was real serious; this was no put-on stuff. Their fans hated us, and our fans hated them. I said nuts to them, and I quit.”
Still holding the rights to Camilli, the Giants sent him to the PCL’s Oakland Oaks at season’s end. The Oakland club installed him as player/manager. Camilli thrived, hitting .289 with 14 home runs before an August foot injury ended his season.
The Oaks fired him in June, 1945 and he quickly signed on with the Boston Red Sox. With many of the game’s best players serving in the Second World War, the team’s rosters were depleted. The 38-year old Camilli hit a career-low .212 in 63 games before retiring as a player for good.
Shown here is a handwritten note signed at the bottom by Dolph Camilli. It reads, “1945 was a war year and most of the stars like [Ted] Williams etc. were in the service. Regardless, attendance and enthusiasm was good. The best thing that happened was the end of the war before the season ended.”
