Al Dark
| Birthdate | 1/7/1922 |
| Death Date | 11/13/2014 |
| Debut Year | 1946 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Indians, Padres, Phillies |
| Positions | Manager, Shortstop, Third Base |
The 1948 Rookie of the Year, all star Al Dark finished with 2,089 hits then managed two pennant winners and one World Championship team.
In the collection:
Autographed 1955 Al Dark Bowman baseball card
Autographed 1955 Al Dark Bowman baseball card
Largely forgotten, Alvin Dark was the 1948 National League Rookie of the Year and a three-time All Star who played 14 years and amassed 2,089 hits. Along the way he also became the first NL shortstop to hit 20 or more homers in a season more than once. His playing career on its own falls short of Cooperstown candidacy but he also managed two pennant winners and a World Series champion in 13 years as a Major League skipper. Shown here is a 1955 Bowman baseball card autographed by Al Dark.
One player card, one manager card
One player card, one manager card
As a player Dark is most remembered for his seven years with the New York Giants. Dark reached the All Star game three times from 1951-1954 with New York. He also played for the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, and Phillies. Shown here is a 1959 card with Dark pictures in his Chicago uniform. Each step of the way Dark was productive. He won the 1948 Rookie of the Year with the Braves when he hit .322. His lifetime average as a Cardinal matched his career mark at .289. When he went to Chicago he was already in his late 30s yet he still hit .279 during his two seasons with the Cubs. The other card is a 1961 Topps card, his first as a manager. Dark guided the 1961 club to 85 wins before taking the ’62 team to 103 wins and the National League pennant.
A pair of autographed Al Dark manager cards
A pair of autographed Al Dark manager cards
Though Dark’s San Fransisco teams fared well, averaging 91.5 wins during this three seasons, he gained lasting fame as the pilot for Charlie Finley and the Oakland A’s. Originally hired for the 1966 season, Dark left midyear in 1967 only to be rehired in 1974. His second stint, a two-season stay, produced two Western Division championships and a World Series title. Dark also managed the Indians and the Padres finishing with 994 career managerial wins. Shown here is a pair of autographed cards from Dark’s day as a manager.
