Alvin Ralph Dark, nicknamed “Blackie” and “The Swamp Fox”, was an American Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. He played fourteen years for five National League teams from 1946 through 1960. Dark was named the major leagues’ 1948 Rookie of the Year after batting .322 for the Boston Braves.

Dark was an All-Star for three seasons. He hit .300 or more three times while playing for the New York Giants, and became the first NL shortstop to hit 20 home runs more than once. His .411 career slugging average was the seventh highest by an NL shortstop at his retirement, and his 126 home runs placed him behind only Ernie Banks and Travis Jackson. After leading the NL in putouts and double plays three times each, he ended his career with the seventh most double plays (933) and tenth highest fielding percentage (.960) in league history. Dark went on to become the third manager to win pennant championships managing both National and American League teams. He also was named the first Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner from Phi Delta Theta.