Doug Camilli--1963
Languishing on the Dodgers bench
behind starter John Roseboro and
handy backup Norm Sherry for two
seasons, Doug Camilli gathered a
then career-high 88 major league
at-bats in 1962. The son of former
Dodger standout and the National
League’s MVP of 1941, Dolph
Camilli, Doug posted a .284
average with four long balls during
his first extended tour of the National
League. Thus for his 1963 card,
Topps proclaimed the following on
the back of Camilli's card:
“Finally given the chance to
display his talents last year, Doug
showed he could handle big
league pitching.”
Unfortunately, the younger Camilli
was not able to sustain his success in
future seasons, as the catcher went
on to hit just .162 once handed 117
at-bats in 1963. He did improve
slightly in 1964, reaching a .179 mark
in 123 at-bats during his last season
for the Dodgers.
Sold to the lowly Washington
Senators following the ’64 campaign,
Camilli continued to swing a weak
stick in four more major league
seasons. At the end of nine-year
major league journey, the hind
snatcher would officially log a .199
average with 18 homers; far less
imposing numbers compared to his
father’s career totals of .277 with 239
home runs.
While the Dodgers most likely held
high hopes for young Doug to follow
in his father’s footsteps, his career
serves as another reminder that
sometimes it just doesn’t work out for
the sons of major leaguers.
(2/9/09)
behind starter John Roseboro and
handy backup Norm Sherry for two
seasons, Doug Camilli gathered a
then career-high 88 major league
at-bats in 1962. The son of former
Dodger standout and the National
League’s MVP of 1941, Dolph
Camilli, Doug posted a .284
average with four long balls during
his first extended tour of the National
League. Thus for his 1963 card,
Topps proclaimed the following on
the back of Camilli's card:
“Finally given the chance to
display his talents last year, Doug
showed he could handle big
league pitching.”
Unfortunately, the younger Camilli
was not able to sustain his success in
future seasons, as the catcher went
on to hit just .162 once handed 117
at-bats in 1963. He did improve
slightly in 1964, reaching a .179 mark
in 123 at-bats during his last season
for the Dodgers.
Sold to the lowly Washington
Senators following the ’64 campaign,
Camilli continued to swing a weak
stick in four more major league
seasons. At the end of nine-year
major league journey, the hind
snatcher would officially log a .199
average with 18 homers; far less
imposing numbers compared to his
father’s career totals of .277 with 239
home runs.
While the Dodgers most likely held
high hopes for young Doug to follow
in his father’s footsteps, his career
serves as another reminder that
sometimes it just doesn’t work out for
the sons of major leaguers.
(2/9/09)
