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Campy: The Two Lives of Roy Campanella

by Neil Lanctot (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 45 ratings · 15 reviews

Neil Lanctot’s biography of Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella—filled with surprises—is the first life of the Dodger great in decades and the most authoritative ever published. Born to a father of Italian descent and an African- American mother, Campanella wanted to be a ballplayer from childhood but was barred by color from the major leagues. He dropped out of school to...more Neil Lanctot’s biography of Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella—filled with surprises—is the first life of the Dodger great in decades and the most authoritative ever published. Born to a father of Italian descent and an African- American mother, Campanella wanted to be a ballplayer from childhood but was barred by color from the major leagues. He dropped out of school to play professional ball with the Negro Leagues’ Washington (later Baltimore) Elite Giants, where he honed his skills under Hall of Fame catcher Biz Mackey. Campy played eight years in the Negro Leagues until the major leagues integrated. Ironically, he and not Jackie Robinson might have been the player to integrate baseball, as Lanctot reveals. An early recruit to Branch Rickey’s “Great Experiment” with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Campy became the first African-American catcher in the twentieth century in the major leagues. As Lanctot discloses, Campanella and Robinson, pioneers of integration, had a contentious relationship, largely as a result of a dispute over postseason barnstorming.

Campanella was a mainstay of the great Dodger teams that consistently contended for pennants in the late 1940s and 1950s. He was a three-time MVP, an outstanding defensive catcher, and a powerful offensive threat. But on a rainy January night in 1958, all that changed. On his way home from his liquor store in Harlem, Campy lost control of his car, hit a utility pole, and was paralyzed below the neck. Lanctot reveals how Campanella’s complicated personal life (he would marry three times) played a role in the accident. Campanella would now become another sort of pioneer, learning new techniques of physical therapy under the celebrated Dr. Howard Rusk at his Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As he gradually recovered some limited motion, Campanella inspired other athletes and physically handicapped people everywhere.

Based on interviews with dozens of people who knew Roy Campanella and diligent research into contemporary sources, Campy offers a three-dimensional portrait of this gifted athlete and remarkable man whose second life after baseball would prove as illustrious and courageous as his first.(less)

Hardcover, 528 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by Simon & Schuster

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May 20, 2011 Jim Landers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I was 9 years old when Roy Campanella was paralyzed in an automobile accident. I still remember the shock and heartbreak I felt when I read the newspaper that day. He was my favorite Brooklyn Dodger and he seemed to love baseball more than any other player that I knew. Being paralyzed and not being able to play baseball must have seemed almost worse than dying.

Roy joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948, the year I was born and the year after the historic debut of Jackie Robinson. Jackie was admired...more I was 9 years old when Roy Campanella was paralyzed in an automobile accident. I still remember the shock and heartbreak I felt when I read the newspaper that day. He was my favorite Brooklyn Dodger and he seemed to love baseball more than any other player that I knew. Being paralyzed and not being able to play baseball must have seemed almost worse than dying.

Roy joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948, the year I was born and the year after the historic debut of Jackie Robinson. Jackie was admired, even revered by fans. Roy was loved. Jackie was confrontational, Roy was grateful for every good thing that happened in his life. (He got to play baseball every day! And they gave him money to do it!) Jackie went to UCLA, could have played football or basketball but accepted the challenge of integrating baseball. It was a job and a moral obligation. Campy dropped out of high school to play professional baseball ($25 week when he was 15 years old). He loved baseball - he played for free, he played for a little bit of money and he played for a lot of money. He liked the money but he loved the game.

I was and I am a great admirer and fan of Jackie Robinson so I don't mean to diminish him any way, but Jackie was like Superman, formidable but distant. Campy was Spiderman - awe-inspiring but very human. You shared all of his joy and pain and that's what made his accident so real to his millions of fans.

In this new biography Neil Lanctot has delivered a very readable, well researched and well balanced presentation of Campy's life before and after his accident. Not that there were a lot of dirty little secrets. Campy could embroider the truth a bit and skate around the truth now and then but it was all rather minor stuff.

One could argue that his relationships with his wives showed a different Roy, one not so admirable. But I think anyone who has experienced a failed relationship would think it unfair for their behavior towards that person to be used to characterize his or her life. For both parties the accumulation of the real and imagined slights and hurts and betrayals, the retributions driven by all of that pain, can look unjustified or disproportionate to any outsider. I can characterize some of Roy's words and behavior as unseemly; I can't say that about the man.

For the most part, if you heard or read his words you knew immediately who he was and what he was - someone who worked hard to be liked and enjoyed sharing his great love for the game of baseball. I'm very grateful to Mr. Lanctot for bringing Roy back to life for me, if only for a few days.
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Dec 23, 2011 Barney rated it 4 of 5 stars

The title of this book is apt on several levels, not just the pre and post December 1957 life of Campanella.

Roy Campanella started playing in the Negro Leagues in 1937 at age 15 and in 1946 became the second African American ballplayer for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Between 1947 and 1957, Campanella was a three time National League Most Valuable Player as the Dodger catcher. His third and last MVP came in 1955 as the Dodgers finally defeated the hated Yankees in the World Series. By the end of the 1...more The title of this book is apt on several levels, not just the pre and post December 1957 life of Campanella.

Roy Campanella started playing in the Negro Leagues in 1937 at age 15 and in 1946 became the second African American ballplayer for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Between 1947 and 1957, Campanella was a three time National League Most Valuable Player as the Dodger catcher. His third and last MVP came in 1955 as the Dodgers finally defeated the hated Yankees in the World Series. By the end of the 1957 season, Campanella was slowing down and was not the player he once was. Still, he planned on going to LA after the Dodgers moved.

Lanctot does not fall victim to a common problem in many baseball biographies, that of hero worship. Campanella is presented as a man; albeit a man who considered himself quite lucky to be able to play major league baseball. Perhaps the most interesting part of the text is the deterioration of the relationship between Jackie Robinson and Campanella, which is reported on by Lanctot in an even handed fashion. The author lets the players speak for themselves, thereby allowing the reader to develop his/her own ideas about the place of race in Eisenhower's America. This is another way in which the title is apt, as Campy had two lives about race. He was beloved, to be sure, but in some ways did not carry the respect of the black baseball community that Robinson did.

Campanella was rendered a quadriplegic in a December 1957 car crash; Lanctot does a masterful job of describing not only the professional but the personal fallout from this accident, and does not sugarcoat Campy's post-accident life (all 35 years of it). When Campanella was injured, most quadriplegics died within a few years. Of course, this is the "second life" that the title refers to, a man who literally has all that he knew taken away from him. What Lanctot delves into is the idea that is shied away from in Campanella's autobiography It's Good to be Alive. In many ways, Campanella's accident could have been avoided. Campanella's car crashed into a utility pole at 3 am, one of many late nights returning to his home from his Harlem business and mistress. In many ways, Campanella's own actions, as much as his paralysis, destroyed his second marriage.

Lastly, this book deals with the two lives that many ballplayers face, the one before and after baseball. It is easy to blast today's players for making too much money (most of them do), but consider this. I am now 38 years old and a teacher. If I was a baseball player, my playing career would most likely already be over or would be within a few years. The question becomes "Now what?" The baseball establishment is still very much an old-boys network, and most former players are completely shut out from what they knew. Babe Ruth was one example and for several years, until Walt Alston and Tommy Lasorda demanded he be on staff during spring training, Campanella was another. In this final facet of the two lives, Lanctot again remains even handed. All in all, an exceptional biography. (less)

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Mar 26, 2011 victor harris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: baseball, biography

Although the prose was bland in spots, the coverage of different topics was interesting. The Jackie Robinson- Roy Campanella feud was one of the central topics in the book. This was a feud that continued after Campanella became a quadrapeligic following a car accident. An accident where the account and details are still murky.
Unlike a previous biography of Campanella, this is a balanced look at his career as a player and his inspirational battle to deal with his handicaps. After several years...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Jim Kulhawy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good book that breaks down Roy Campanella's life into two seperate lives, the oe before te accident and the one after.

The Campanella story begins by telling of young Campanella's life being raised by parents of a racially mixed marriage and how it forced him into the rules of "Jim Crow America". Young Campanella was forced to go throug is childhood and early life in a segregated world because "...one drop of Negro blood, in 1920's Americamade you 100% Negro..." Young Roy loved sports, espec...more Very good book that breaks down Roy Campanella's life into two seperate lives, the oe before te accident and the one after.

The Campanella story begins by telling of young Campanella's life being raised by parents of a racially mixed marriage and how it forced him into the rules of "Jim Crow America". Young Campanella was forced to go throug is childhood and early life in a segregated world because "...one drop of Negro blood, in 1920's Americamade you 100% Negro..." Young Roy loved sports, especially baseball, and excelled at all he played. When he was 15 Roy, with his mother's grudging permisson, joined the Negro Leagues and under the guidance of star player/manager Biz Mackey grew into the biggest stars in black baseball. In the mid 1940's Campanella followed in the footsteps of Jackie Robinson to Ebbet's Field and the starting lineup of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson and Campanella initially formed a close bond.owever, over time the two men had a falling out because Robinson believed Campanella to be too "passive" in the area of black civil rights. Robinson wasn't just happy to have broken the color barrier, he wanted to break down the walls of oppression throughout society, while Campanella was all to0 happy to let his play on the field speak for him. Campanella was, quite possibly, the premier catcher in baseball during his carreer. He won three MVP's and a World Series ring, while the player wom he was most often compared,Yogi Berra, won three MVP's and a recod ten World Series rings. The shining carreer would, however, come to a tragic end in the winter of 1957, which is where the "second life" of Roy Campanella begins.

One winter's night, between the 1957 and 1958 season, Camapanella lost control of his car on an icy road. The ensuing accident left the All Star catcher confined to a wheelchair, as a quadrapalegic, for the rest of is life. After the initial depression lifted, Campanella through his tremendous work ethic behind his rehabilitaion and recouperation. In is "first life" Campanella became an inspiration to black people and folks who loved baseball. However, the "new" Campanella became an inspiration to people of all backrounds, ethnicities and non sports' fans alike, along with the millions of physically challenged people around the world. Campanella threw himself into having as normal a life as he could manage and even though he did go through horrible personal issues because of his disabilities he never once used his handicap as an excuse. Eventually, he was able to hold an on field job with the Dodgers, again, in the later years of his life.

In the end, Campanella was a hero and an inspiration to millions of people around the country ad world. His story is one that people, sports' fans and non sports' fans alike, need to hear, understand and learn about. It'sa story that needs to be told...

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Jan 14, 2013 Tom Gase rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I was unemployed for a little while a few years back I actually thought about writing a book on Roy Campanella since his story is great and it appeared nobody had written a book on him since 1959. I didn't get around to doing that but luckily Neil Lanctot did and what a great book.
Campy tells the story of the former catcher of the Brooklyn Dodgers who was one of the first black players in baseball after Jackie Robinson, and who was a 3-time MVP in 1951, 1953 and 1955-the year the Dodgers fi...more

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May 12, 2011 Robert Morrow rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is an exceptionally well-written biography, period. I intend to put Lanctot's other books on my reading list because he is a damn fine writer. The work is fair, balanced and maintains both a strong narrative and clear character development throughout. Campanella is a multi-faceted character who most likely would have preferred to live his entire life as a happy-go-lucky fellow with exceptional focus and talent in baseball, but both his personal circumstances and the rising pressure of socie...more

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May 08, 2011 Matthew Runyon rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading about Roy's times in the Negro Leagues. Some of the stuff about his accident and his post-accident life seems to be a bit thin on sources. The author was unable to speak with Roy's children, so their point of view isn't really represented in this book.

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Jun 18, 2011 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was so thrilled to have won this book and could not wait to dive into it. I was not disappointed. I know very little about Roy Campanella other than what I hear about him during the Dodger games. I enjoyed the historical aspects in the book, how Campy came to play in the Negro leagues and then the big leagues. So many interesting things about the time and the man. I recommend this book to anyone, especially sports nuts.

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Apr 14, 2011 Kevin Larose rated it 3 of 5 stars

A great biography about a very complex individual. Roy Campanella had some great personal qualities, but like many of us he also had some huge flaws, and this book doesn't shrink away from describing both the pluses and minuses. A good read.

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Jan 29, 2012 Doug Hauser rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, biography, owned-books, sports

Very interesting account of Roy's life. Includes the details of Campenella and Jackie Robinson's feud. It also gave me a nice history of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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Aug 04, 2012 Barry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-reviewed-2012

This excellent book is more than just the biography of one of my childhood favorite ball players. It is a brief history lesson on Negro League baseball, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the breaking of the color line in baseball by Jackie Robinson. It also tells a major story of Roy Campanella, his early life in baseball, his rise to greatness, and The Accident that left him a quadriplegic for the ballance of his life.

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Jul 22, 2011 Brad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Solid bio of one of baseball's pioneers

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Oct 20, 2011 Sylvia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: never-finished

The book started out really good, learning about Roy's upbringing and how he got into playing baseball. I enjoyed learning about his experience in the Negro league and his start with the Dodgers. But...it got too much into the details of every game, of every season with the Dodgers, and I gave up. I will probably skip ahead to the time of his accident and finish the book from there.

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Sep 09, 2011 Malika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well researched...detailed. Would have liked a more narrative as opposed to research tome approach.

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Aug 15, 2011 Jessica (booneybear) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodread-wins-first-reads

My husband couldn't rave enough about this book. Every time he would read bits and pieces of it, he would have to give me the low-down on every thing that Roy Campanella did. It was fun to see him so excited about a book though.

It was interesting to learn that Roy Campanella actually played ball in the town that I grew up in. Small world.

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Shelves: biography, sports

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Apr 29, 2013 Abigail rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Feb 21, 2013 Dan Neumann rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Dec 29, 2012 Bob Margherito rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Neil Lanctot

Neil Lanctot (born 1966) is an American historian and author.

Lanctot was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1987 with a B.A. in English. He subsequently earned an M.A. in American History from Temple University in 1992 and a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 2002.

Lanctot's first book, Fair Dealing and Clean Playing: The Hilldale Club...more

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Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution

Fair Dealing and Clean Playing: The Hilldale Club and the Development of Black Professional Baseball, 1910-1932

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