A Night for Roy Campanella

Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella

Today marks the 65th anniversary of Roy Campanella Night at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

More than 93,000 fans turn out for a Thursday night exhibition game between the Dodgers and New York Yankees to benefit Campanella as he recovers from his career-ending injury.

The former Brooklyn catcher is paralyzed from the chest down after an automobile crash in January 1958 – only a few weeks before he plans to join the Dodgers for their first spring training after moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Between the fifth and sixth innings of the exhibition game, the Coliseum’s lights are turned down as Dodgers shortstop and longtime teammate Pee Wee Reese leads the wheelchair-bound Campanella onto the field, which is illuminated by the glow of the matches and lighters being held by the capacity crowd.

Despite his paralysis, the Hall of Famer remains a fixture with the Dodgers as a special catching instructor until his death in 1993.

Among his prized pupils are All-Stars John Roseboro and Mike Scioscia, as well as future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.

The night in Campanella’s honor 65 years ago today raises more than $60,000 to help offset his ongoing medical expenses.

“The sight was electrifying,” Campanella later says of the illumination fans generate their matches and lighters.

“The Coliseum suddenly burst into a mass of blinking stars. It was a gesture, for my benefit, in the form of a birthday cake. I’ve never seen anything like it.”