The Forgotten Hero

If you ask any baseball fan what the significance of the name "Jackie Robinson" is, you'll no doubt get a consensus as to what that courageous man did. But if you inquired about Larry Doby, you'll more likely receive a blank stare rather than a knowledgeable answer.

Just who is this Larry Doby, you ask?

Well, for beginners, he is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Okay, so are a lot of people. Doby wore #14 and was a scrappy outfielder who played for the then potent Cleveland Indians. He made his major league debut a mere 11 weeks later than the legend Jackie Robinson. Give up? Lawrence Eugene Doby was both the second black player in the Majors as well as the second black manager in the same league. Perhaps it is because he was beaten to both feats, that many fans and media personnel fail to recognize Doby's credentials and his gregarious stature as a classy athlete.

Having played in approximately 150 games more than Robinson, Doby had a career that encompassed a World Series ring, 7 all star berths, hitting for the cycle and a lifetime average of .283. Once again, because he was second to Robinson in breaking the colour barrier, Doby's overdue Cooperstown induction did not come until 39 years after his retirement, having been selected by the Veterans' Committee in 1998. Jackie Robinson on the other hand, was merited with his well-deserved plaque in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown on his first ballot, in 1962.

With all due respect, Jackie Robinson's journey to the Majors was as harsh and toilsome as walking on fire, and the history he made as he stepped into Ebbets Field for the first time is arguably the greatest achievement in all of sports. But Larry Doby's story was one equally inspirational. Though he was the second black man in the Majors, Larry served as the pioneering figure in the American League. So as Jackie Robinson made tough trips to places like Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Cincinnati and the North Side of Chicago, Doby faced the same prejudice in the South Side of ChiTown, Detroit, Washington and most daringly, Yankee Stadium.

"Once, as I slid into second base, the guy playing shortstop spit on me. But I walked away from it." recalls Doby, who was subject to all cruel segregations possible, in hotels, on buses, in restaurants and of course, in the ballpark. But Doby's enduring character allowed him to stay patient and adjust. "You had to adjust, because they weren't going to open up all these places for you right away." says Doby. It was that same persistence that had gotten him to the Bigs in the first place.

A five tool star, Larry Doby was considered one of the slickest outfielders at the time. In 1978, nearly two decades into his retirement from the Majors, Larry Doby filled the shoes of Bob Lemon as manager of the Chicago White Sox, a team he had been traded to at the end of his career. But again, Doby was second in the race, losing to Frank Robinson as the first black manager. Ironically, Doby was hired by owner Bill Veeck, the same man who had in 1946, signed Larry to a major league contract. However, these things didn't matter to Larry Doby, he loved baseball and he was just grateful for the opportunities that were unavailable to so many greats that had come before him.

The legacy Doby trailed in Cleveland lives on 60 years after his improbably debut. On August 10th, 2007, exactly six decades subsequent to Doby's first appearance at Cleveland Stadium, the entire Indians team donned #14 on their jerseys and dedicated the day to Larry Doby. Prior to the 1997 All-Star Game hosted by the Indians at then Jacobs Field, Doby was invited to toss the ceremonial first pitch. An overdue "first" for a man who was always second. Perhaps it was after that moment back in the spotlight, writers began digging up the archives for Doby's name. Wouldn't you know it, Sports Illustrated did an article on him. Media started buzzing about Larry and before long, the call came from Cooperstown.

Larry Doby passed away on June 18th, 2003, in the same state where he began his unlikely career as a black professional athlete. Doby hailed proudly from New Jersey. After Doby's death, even the White House issued a statement of condolences, praising Doby of his ground-breaking achievements.

When Jackie Robinson broke baseball's colour barrier, he only really knocked down half the hurdles, you can credit the other half to Lawrence Eugene Doby.

-D