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2017
Marks
70th
Anniversary
of
Doby’s
Debut
with
the
Cleveland
Indians
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
–
U.S.
Sens.
Tim
Scott
(R-SC),
Lindsey
Graham
(R-SC),
Sherrod
Brown
(D-OH),
Cory
Booker
(D-NJ),
Rob
Portman
(R-OH),
and
Bob
Menendez
(D-NJ),
along
with
U.S.
Reps.
Jim
Renacci
(R-OH-16)
and
Bill
Pascrell
(D-NJ-9),
introduced
legislation
to
honor
Larry
Doby,
the
first
African-American
to
play
in
the
American
League,
with
the
Congressional
Gold
Medal
for
his
career
and
contributions
to
the
American
civil
rights
movement.
In
joining
the
American
League,
Doby
effectively
integrated
all
of
professional
baseball.
This
year
is
the
70th
Anniversary
of
Doby’s
debut
with
the
Cleveland
Indians
in
1947.
“Being
the
‘first’
to
break
through
barriers
is
often
a
responsibility
that
is
met
with
enormous
sacrifice
and
perseverance,” said
Senator
Scott. “These
are
individuals
who
risk
it
all
to
pave
a
different,
brighter
future
for
countless
generations,
and
why
trailblazers
like
South
Carolina
native
Larry
Doby
deserve
to
be
recognized
for
taking
the
first
step
that
has
opened
the
door
to
so
many.
Doby’s
contribution
to
Major
League
Baseball,
the
Civil
Rights
movement,
and
his
service
to
our
nation
will
forever
be
etched
in
our
country’s
history.”
“Larry
Doby
seldom
receives
credit
for
his
role
in
integrating
all
of
professional
baseball
and
it’s
past
time
to
honor
his
contributions
to
both
civil
rights
and
America’s
game,”
said
Senator
Brown,
who
displays
in
his
Washington,
D.C.
office
a
replica
of
the
statue
of
Doby
that
stands
at
Progressive
Field.
“Doby’s
heroism
surpasses
his
remarkable
skill
–
he
overcame
discrimination
and
hostility
to
break
barriers,
leading
Cleveland
to
victory
and
moving
our
country
in
the
right
direction.”
“As
the
first
player
to
integrate
the
American
League,
Larry
Doby
played
an
instrumental
role
in
our
country’s
civil
rights
movement,”
said
Senator
Booker.
“His
perseverance
through
adversity
inspired
a
generation
and
made
a
lasting
impact
on
American
history.
And
long
after
his
baseball
career
was
over,
he
continued
to
serve
his
community
in
New
Jersey.
The
Congressional
Gold
Medal
is
a
fitting
recognition
for
an
individual
who
helped
change
our
national
pastime
and
our
country
for
the
better.”
“The
game
of
baseball
has
a
long
and
storied
history
in
Ohio
and
Feller,
Thome,
Bench,
Rose,
and
Larkin
are
household
names
throughout
our
state.
No
one
person
did
more
to
change
the
game,
however,
than
Larry
Doby,”
said
Senator
Portman.
“As
the
first
African
American
player
in
the
American
League,
Larry
Doby
broke
down
barriers
with
his
remarkable
skill
and
competitive
spirit
and
forever
changed
the
game
of
baseball.
Through
sheer
determination,
Doby
became
a
symbol
for
the
fight
for
equality
in
our
country,
and
encouraged
thousands
of
Ohioans
and
kids
across
our
country
to
push
the
boundaries
of
what
they
thought
possible.
I
join
my
colleagues
in
urging
the
Senate
to
honor
the
life
and
legacy
of
Larry
Doby.”
“It
is
fitting
that
the
pride
of
Paterson,
N.J.,
and
a
man
who
helped
change
America's
game
forever
and shape
the
course
of
our
nation's
civil
rights
be
awarded
the
highest
civilian
honor
Congress
has
to
offer,”
said
Senator
Menendez.
“On
behalf
of
all
of
the
people
of
New
Jersey
and
every
American,
it
is
a
privilege
to
honor
Larry
Doby’s
life
and
legacy.”
“I
am
grateful
for
what
Larry
Doby
did
to
the
sport
and
our
country
and
am
pleased
I
could
be
a
small
part
of
remembering
his
legacy,”
said
Rep.
Renacci.
“When
you
grow
up
in
Paterson,
New
Jersey,
you
can’t
escape
the
legend
of
Larry
Doby.
I’m
not
just
talking
about
on
the
field,
but
civil
rights
pioneer,
public
servant,
and
community
devotee,”
said
Rep.
Pascrell,
who
authored
the
law
naming
a
Paterson
Post
Office
after
Mr.
Doby.
“We
should
all
look
to
the
legacy
of
leadership
that
Larry
left
behind.
The
progress
Larry
fought
for
did
not
come
easy,
and
the
least
we
as
the
Congress
can
do
is
to
bestow
this
honor
recognizing
Larry
Doby
as
a
truly
great
American.”
“The
Cleveland
Indians
organization
is
very
proud
of
Larry
Doby’s
legacy,”
said
Indians
Senior
Vice
President
of
Public
Affairs
Bob
DiBiasio.
“Mr.
Doby,
a
symbol
of
equality
and
freedom
of
opportunity,
stood
with
grace,
dignity
and
a
competitive
spirit
that
resonated
throughout
Ohio
and
across
America.”
Lawrence
Eugene
“Larry”
Doby
joined
the
Cleveland
Indians
in
July
1947,
becoming
the
first
African-American
to
play
in
the
American
League.
During
his
13-year
career
in
the
American
League,
Doby
tallied
1,533
games,
batting
.283,
with
253
home
runs
and
970
runs
batted
in.
He
played
in
two
World
Series,
leading
the
1948
Cleveland
Indians
to
a
World
Championship
over
the
Boston
Braves.
He
was
the
first
African-American
player
to
hit
a
home
run
in
a
World
Series
game,
led
the
American
League
in
home
runs
twice,
and
was
voted
to
seven
All-Star
teams.
In
1978,
the
Chicago
White
Sox
hired
Doby
as
their
manager
and
he
became
the
second
African-American
manager
in
Major
League
history.
He
later
served
as
Director
of
Community
Relations
for
the
New
Jersey
Nets
of
the
National
Basketball
Association.
He
was
inducted
to
the
National
Baseball
Hall
of
Fame
in
1998
and
the
Ohio
Civil
Rights
Hall
of
Fame
in
2013.
Doby
was
born
in
Camden,
South
Carolina
in
1923
and
moved
to
Paterson,
New
Jersey
in
1938,
where
he
became
a
standout
athlete
at
Paterson
Eastside
High
School.
He
attended
Long
Island
University
on
a
basketball
scholarship
before
enlisting
in
the
U.S.
Navy
during
World
War
II.
He
was
discharged
in
1946
and
went
on
to
play
baseball
in
the
Negro
National
League
for
the
Newark
Eagles.
Doby
passed
away
in
2003.
Major
League
Base
Major
League
Baseball,
the
Major
League
Baseball
Players
Association,
the
National
Baseball
Hall
of
Fame
and
Museum
in
Cooperstown,
New
York,
and
the
Negro
Leagues
Baseball
Museum
support
the
bill.
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