Two-time National League batting champion Tommy Davis, whose baseball path as a high school standout was altered by a phone call from Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, passed away Sunday night at the age of 83.
Davis, who was born March 21, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, died in Phoenix with his family at his bedside.
Davis won back-to-back batting titles with the Dodgers in 1962 and 1963 and holds the single-season club records with 230 hits and 153 RBI.
The Brooklyn native was the first batting champion in the history of the Los Angeles franchise, winning consecutive titles in 1962 (.346) and 1963 (.326). His 230 hits and 153 RBI in 1962 remain L.A. single-season records. He was a member of three Dodger championship teams in 1959, 1963 and 1965.
Davis played 18 years in the Majors including eight years with the Dodgers from 1959-1966. He was a hit in the Dodgers’ new stadium in 1962 as he won the batting title with a .346 average along with 27 doubles, 27 homers, 153 RBIs. He led the league in hits and RBI.
He followed that up in 1963 by leading the league again with a .326 average with 16 homers and 88 RBI.
Davis was a three-time World Champion as a Dodger in 1959, 1963 and 1965 and also earned All-Star honors.
In addition to his play with the Dodgers, Davis also played for the New York Mets (1967), Chicago White Sox (1968), Seattle (1969), Houston (1969-70), Oakland (1970, 1971), Chicago Cubs (1970, 1972), Baltimore (1972-75), California (1976) and Kansas City…