Dark was named the MLB Rookie of the Year and finished third in the MVP voting in 1948 after playing a vital part of the Boston Braves' unlikely run to the pennant, their first since 1914, though he hit only .167 in the World Series loss to the Cleveland Indians.
Dark was traded after the 1949 season, which turned out to be a boon for the Giants.
Dark was immediately named team captain by manager Leo Durocher, and had several great seasons in New York.
In 1951 Dark batted .303, with 114 runs, and a league-leading 41 doubles, as the Giants won their first pennant since 1937; he hit .417 in the World Series against the New York Yankees, including a three-run home run in Game 1, though the Giants lost in six games.
Dark followed up with seasons hitting .301 and .300 in 1952-53, scoring 126 runs, with 23 home runs, and 41 doubles in the latter season.
In 1954 he batted .293 with 20 home runs and was fifth in the MVP voting as the Giants won another pennant; in the World Series against the heavily favored Indians, Dark batted .412 with a hit in every game, and the Giants pulled off an astonishing sweep to win their first championship since 1933.
He was the NL's starting shortstop for the All-Star game in 1951, 1952 and 1954.
In 1955 Dark was awarded the first Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given to the player who best exemplified Gehrig's character and integrity both on and off the field.

In June 1956, Dark was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in a nine-player deal; he continued to hit well and led the NL in putouts and double plays for the third time in 1957.
Dark was traded to the Chicago Cubs in May 1958, batting .295 over the remainder of the season and .264 in 1959; with Ernie Banks at shortstop, the Cubs shifted Dark to third base, where he remained in his last MLB seasons.

Dark had a role in one of baseball history's weirdest plays.
It took place during a game played on June 30, 1959, between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.
Stan Musial was at the plate, with a count of 3-1.
pitcher Bob Anderson’s next pitch was errant, evading catcher Sammy Taylor and rolling all the way to the backstop.
Umpire Vic Delmore called ball four, but Anderson and Taylor contended that Musial foul tipped the ball.
Because the ball was still in play, and because Delmore was embroiled in an argument with the catcher and pitcher, Musial took it upon himself to try for second base.
Seeing that Musial was trying for second, Dark ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball.
The ball wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper, but Dark ended up getting it back anyway.
Absentmindedly, however, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Taylor.
Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor.
Anderson's throw flew over Tony Taylor's head into the outfield.
Dark, at the same time that Anderson threw the new ball, threw the original ball to shortstop Ernie Banks.
Musial, though, did not see Dark's throw and only noticed Anderson's ball fly over the second baseman's head, so Musial tried to go to third base.
On his way there, he was tagged by Banks, and after a delay, Musial was ruled out.

In January 1960, Dark was traded with two other players to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Richie Ashburn; after hitting .242 in 55 games, Dark was traded back to the Braves (now in Milwaukee) in June and hit .298 in his final 50 games.
On October 31 of that year, he was traded back to the Giants (who had moved to San Francisco two years earlier), who wanted Dark as their new manager rather than as a player.
He retired with a .289 career batting average, 2,089 hits, 1,064 runs, and 757 runs batted in (RBI), over 1,828 games played.
Defensively, Dark recorded a .959 fielding percentage.
According to baseball writer Bill James, Dark may have lost a Hall of Fame career due to his debut being delayed by his military service during World War II.

In a 1969 poll, Giants fans selected Dark as the greatest shortstop in team history.
Dark was named the MLB Rookie of the Year and finished third in the MVP voting in 1948 after playing a vital part of the Boston Braves' unlikely run to the pennant, their first since 1914, though he hit only .167 in the World Series loss to the Cleveland Indians. Dark was traded after the 1949 season, which turned out to be a boon for the Giants. Dark was immediately named team captain by manager Leo Durocher, and had several great seasons in New York. In 1951 Dark batted .303, with 114 runs, and a league-leading 41 doubles, as the Giants won their first pennant since 1937; he hit .417 in the World Series against the New York Yankees, including a three-run home run in Game 1, though the Giants lost in six games. Dark followed up with seasons hitting .301 and .300 in 1952-53, scoring 126 runs, with 23 home runs, and 41 doubles in the latter season. In 1954 he batted .293 with 20 home runs and was fifth in the MVP voting as the Giants won another pennant; in the World Series against the heavily favored Indians, Dark batted .412 with a hit in every game, and the Giants pulled off an astonishing sweep to win their first championship since 1933. He was the NL's starting shortstop for the All-Star game in 1951, 1952 and 1954. In 1955 Dark was awarded the first Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given to the player who best exemplified Gehrig's character and integrity both on and off the field.
In June 1956, Dark was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in a nine-player deal; he continued to hit well and led the NL in putouts and double plays for the third time in 1957. Dark was traded to the Chicago Cubs in May 1958, batting .295 over the remainder of the season and .264 in 1959; with Ernie Banks at shortstop, the Cubs shifted Dark to third base, where he remained in his last MLB seasons.
Dark had a role in one of baseball history's weirdest plays. It took place during a game played on June 30, 1959, between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. Stan Musial was at the plate, with a count of 3-1. pitcher Bob Anderson’s next pitch was errant, evading catcher Sammy Taylor and rolling all the way to the backstop. Umpire Vic Delmore called ball four, but Anderson and Taylor contended that Musial foul tipped the ball. Because the ball was still in play, and because Delmore was embroiled in an argument with the catcher and pitcher, Musial took it upon himself to try for second base. Seeing that Musial was trying for second, Dark ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball. The ball wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper, but Dark ended up getting it back anyway. Absentmindedly, however, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Taylor. Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor. Anderson's throw flew over Tony Taylor's head into the outfield. Dark, at the same time that Anderson threw the new ball, threw the original ball to shortstop Ernie Banks. Musial, though, did not see Dark's throw and only noticed Anderson's ball fly over the second baseman's head, so Musial tried to go to third base. On his way there, he was tagged by Banks, and after a delay, Musial was ruled out.
In January 1960, Dark was traded with two other players to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Richie Ashburn; after hitting .242 in 55 games, Dark was traded back to the Braves (now in Milwaukee) in June and hit .298 in his final 50 games. On October 31 of that year, he was traded back to the Giants (who had moved to San Francisco two years earlier), who wanted Dark as their new manager rather than as a player. He retired with a .289 career batting average, 2,089 hits, 1,064 runs, and 757 runs batted in (RBI), over 1,828 games played. Defensively, Dark recorded a .959 fielding percentage. According to baseball writer Bill James, Dark may have lost a Hall of Fame career due to his debut being delayed by his military service during World War II.
In a 1969 poll, Giants fans selected Dark as the greatest shortstop in team history.
Alvin Dark