On Nov. 21, 1952, Joe Black, a 28-year-old right-hander for the Brooklyn Dodgers, was overwhelmingly voted as the National League Rookie of the Year, receiving 19 of 24 first-place votes. Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Groat and Eddie Mathews also received first-place votes. This made Black the third player in Dodgers franchise history to win the Rookie of the Year honors, joining Jackie Robinson in 1947 and Don Newcombe in 1949. The following season, Jim Gilliam added to the Dodgers list by winning the honor for 1953.
From 1947 to 1956, Reese appeared in no fewer than 140 games and was one of the pillars of the franchise. Reese wasn't an MVP-level player, but he was what embodied that caliber teammate and role model.