Don Newcombe's hardness helped him overcome hatred and become a legend

My visits with him, which finally ended when he went upstairs to watch the game from a sequel, were the best part of my day. He was more than a legend, he was a friend, an uncle, a wise and generous man who unconditionally shared his joy and his pain. Sometimes he did not say anything, we watched the field together silently, watching the Dodgers train to bat. I often wondered what he was thinking.