Roy Campanella played his last game for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957. Following that season on January 28, 1958, he suffered a terrible auto accident. His neck was broken, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. With physical therapy he did recover partial use of his arms and hands, but he would never play baseball again.

At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on May 7, 1959, the Dodgers honored Campanella with a special night, featuring an exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The proceeds from this game were given over to defray the great star’s medical expenses. The attendance of 93,103 set a record for the largest crowd to attend a Major League Baseball game. Fans showed their love and respect for Roy Campanella. He was an amazing man.