Alvin Dark

Alvin Ralph Dark (January 7, 1922 – November 13, 2014), nicknamed "Blackie" and "the Swamp Fox," was an American professional baseball shortstop and manager. Born in Oklahoma, he grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and played baseball, basketball, and football at Louisiana State University before transferring to Southwestern Louisiana Institute to enter officer training for the United States Marine Corps. After serving in the Marines in 1945 and 1946, he signed with the Braves and debuted with them later that year. He spent 1947 in the minor leagues, then was named the major leagues' 1948 Rookie of the Year after batting .322 for the Boston Braves.

Over fourteen seasons in Major League Baseball, Dark played for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1946, 1948–49, 1960), the New York Giants (1950–1956), the St. Louis Cardinals (1956–1958), the Chicago Cubs (1958–59), and the Philadelphia Phillies (1960). He was a three-time All-Star and won the World Series as a player in 1954.

He later managed the San Francisco Giants (1961–1964), the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1966–67, 1974–75), the Cleveland Indians (1968–1971), and the San Diego Padres (1977), winning the 1974 World Series as a manager. In all, he was a two-time World Series champion.