Books and articles about Al Campanis

Campanis worked for the Dodgers for 46 years, rising to vice-president in charge of player personnel. His career came to an unceremonious end early in 1987 when he made insensitive racial remarks in a network television interview.

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He played seven games with the Dodgers in 1943 before leaving for WWII with the Navy, and when he returned he became a manager in the Dodgers' minor league system. Campanis became a scout in 1950 and director of scouting from 1957 to 1968, before finally settling in as a club vice-president in 1969. His son Jim was a ML catcher for parts of six seasons.

In the infamous 1987 interview, he provoked national ridicule by suggesting that black ballplayers lacked the "necessities" to become ML managers. (FVP)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 15, 1968: The Dodgers send C Jim Campanis, son of Dodger executive Al Campanis, to the Royals for two minor leaguers. » May 4, 1976: At Wrigley, Rick Monday is honored before the Tuesday game, and he receives a copy of the proclamation and the flag he had rescued. Dodger VP and GM Al Campanis had to make special arrangements to get the flag out of the LAPD evidence room in time to present it to Rick. There are less than 5000 on hand as the Cubs lost to the Dodgers, 9–6. Rick has one hit and an RBI driving in Davey Rosello. » April 8, 1987: Faced with a storm of public criticism, the Dodgers fire vice president Al Campanis for racially insensitive remarks he made on the April 6th telecast of ABC-TV's Nightline news show. Campanis had said that blacks may lack "some of the necessities to be a field manager or general manager." » June 20, 1998: Former Dodger general manager Al Campanis dies of a heart attack at age 81. Campanis is credited with helping to build the Dodger clubs of the 1970s and 1980s.