QuarterCenturyLegend
Stoopid Life
On this day, July 3rd, 1947 Larry Doby signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians.
In 1942, Bill Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians proposed integration into the world of Major League Baseball and was denied by then commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Veeck explained, not only would he be exploring to find a black player that could contribute to the club; he was searching for a ballplayer who could handle what would come; not only the hatred outside of the clubhouse, but the hatred that would be consistent outside of it as well.
Doby, unlike Jackie Robinson, never went through the farm system. He was the first player to go straight from the Negro Leagues into the Majors, also becoming the first black player in the American League.
July 5th, 1947 - Chicago
Comiskey Park was the setting and Larry Doby wasn't in the starting lineup. Lou Boudreau, player/manager, couldn't find an unfilled position for Doby in the lineup so the first at bat in his first major league game came as a pinch hitter.
July 6th - Chicago
A day later in Comiskey Park is where the first hit was made in Doby's career. After being brought up as a second baseman, Doby was placed in the lineup in the second game of a double-header as a first baseman. Unable to obtain a first baseman's glove from his teammate, Eddie Robinson, he was loaned a glove from the Chicago White Sox. After being asked from management, Robinson obliged as well.
July 6th was the only game Doby would start in his rookie season hitting .156 with 32 at bats.
5-32 in a rookie season wouldn't discourage Doby to become the player he knew he was. This time around, Doby was able to attend Spring Training, developed a few relationships with teammates and continued to ignore the players in & out of the clubhouse who wouldn't accept him. Doby's talking would be heard from how he played the game.
Doby's second season was the start of a Hall of Fame career. Doby had a batting average of .301 while playing in 121 games compared to the 29 he was able to play in as a rookie.
1949-1955
From 1949-1955, Larry Doby was selected to the All Star team each year. Never playing under 130 games during those seasons, questions of if his second year was a fluke, or could he hit were directly answered from the thump of the bat.
Doby would continue his career with the White Sox, Toronto and Detroit until injuries would end his Major League career. Doby also played briefly in Japan but found his way back into MLB as a scout & positional coach. In his 13 year career, Doby held a batting average of .283 ending his career in 1959.
Doby's jersey #14 was retired by the Cleveland Indians July 3rd, 1994.
Lawrence Eugene Doby was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. (Veterans Committee Vote)
Even more impressive than what Doby accomplished in the majors, he started playing in the Negro leagues at age 17, attended college and served two years in the Navy in the midst of World War II.
Some may wonder why I took the time to write all of this out ... From the day I joined this site, Larry Doby has always been my avatar. Partially because he was a Cleveland Indian, partially because he was the first black player in the American League. I didn't make this thread to compare Doby to Robinson, I made this thread to bring light to an important figure in Black History who has seemed to be forgotten. An inspiration to all, no matter the color of your skin.
I
you Mr. Larry Doby
12/13/1923-6/18/2003
In 1942, Bill Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians proposed integration into the world of Major League Baseball and was denied by then commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Veeck explained, not only would he be exploring to find a black player that could contribute to the club; he was searching for a ballplayer who could handle what would come; not only the hatred outside of the clubhouse, but the hatred that would be consistent outside of it as well.
Doby, unlike Jackie Robinson, never went through the farm system. He was the first player to go straight from the Negro Leagues into the Majors, also becoming the first black player in the American League.
July 5th, 1947 - Chicago
Comiskey Park was the setting and Larry Doby wasn't in the starting lineup. Lou Boudreau, player/manager, couldn't find an unfilled position for Doby in the lineup so the first at bat in his first major league game came as a pinch hitter.
July 6th - Chicago
A day later in Comiskey Park is where the first hit was made in Doby's career. After being brought up as a second baseman, Doby was placed in the lineup in the second game of a double-header as a first baseman. Unable to obtain a first baseman's glove from his teammate, Eddie Robinson, he was loaned a glove from the Chicago White Sox. After being asked from management, Robinson obliged as well.
July 6th was the only game Doby would start in his rookie season hitting .156 with 32 at bats.
5-32 in a rookie season wouldn't discourage Doby to become the player he knew he was. This time around, Doby was able to attend Spring Training, developed a few relationships with teammates and continued to ignore the players in & out of the clubhouse who wouldn't accept him. Doby's talking would be heard from how he played the game.
Doby's second season was the start of a Hall of Fame career. Doby had a batting average of .301 while playing in 121 games compared to the 29 he was able to play in as a rookie.
1949-1955
From 1949-1955, Larry Doby was selected to the All Star team each year. Never playing under 130 games during those seasons, questions of if his second year was a fluke, or could he hit were directly answered from the thump of the bat.
Doby would continue his career with the White Sox, Toronto and Detroit until injuries would end his Major League career. Doby also played briefly in Japan but found his way back into MLB as a scout & positional coach. In his 13 year career, Doby held a batting average of .283 ending his career in 1959.
Doby's jersey #14 was retired by the Cleveland Indians July 3rd, 1994.
Lawrence Eugene Doby was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. (Veterans Committee Vote)
- Bob Feller
Even more impressive than what Doby accomplished in the majors, he started playing in the Negro leagues at age 17, attended college and served two years in the Navy in the midst of World War II.
Some may wonder why I took the time to write all of this out ... From the day I joined this site, Larry Doby has always been my avatar. Partially because he was a Cleveland Indian, partially because he was the first black player in the American League. I didn't make this thread to compare Doby to Robinson, I made this thread to bring light to an important figure in Black History who has seemed to be forgotten. An inspiration to all, no matter the color of your skin.
I
you Mr. Larry Doby12/13/1923-6/18/2003
