A graduate of DuPont Manual School in Louisville and one of the most beloved baseball players of all time, Pee Wee played shortstop for the Brooklyn (and Los Angeles) Dodgers from 1940 to 1958. He helped lead the team to seven National League Pennants and two World Series titles – in 1955 (as a player) and in 1959 (as a coach). Through his public and personal support of Jackie Robinson, his new Dodger teammate and the first African American player in the modern era, Pee Wee helped smooth the integration of Major League Baseball. The two became close friends and one of the most feared double-play combinations in history. Pee Wee was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Ironically, his most enduring nickname, “Pee Wee” had nothing to do with baseball. That name was given to him as a young champion marble shooter. For more information about Pee Wee, click here.

Sponsor: Louisville Slugger Museum