[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 98 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S7295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LARRY DOBY

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this past Tuesday night, the eyes of the 
Nation and a good part of the world were focused on Cleveland and the 
playing of the All Star Game. This was an All Star Game that had, I 
think, particular significance. This, of course, is the 50th 
anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entrance into major league baseball, 
when the so-called color line was actually finally broken.
  It was appropriate that the honorary captain of the American League 
was Larry Doby. It was also appropriate that the other honorary captain 
was Frank Robinson. Frank Robinson, of course, who played when I was a 
young boy for the Cincinnati Reds, played very well, and then went on 
later to be the first African American manager in the American League 
for Cleveland.
  Mr. President, on July 5, 1947--50 years ago--Larry Doby became the 
first African-American to play in the American League. Earlier that 
year, of course, Jackie Robinson was the first person to be signed and 
to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers--the first African American to play in 
the major leagues--and Larry Doby was the first African American to 
play in the American League.
  Earlier this year, we as a nation paid tribute to Jackie Robinson for 
the courage and for the integrity showed in breaking baseball's color 
barrier.
  I think it is only right, Mr. President, to hail today on the Senate 
floor the quiet courage of a man who did the same thing just 3 months 
later in the American League. Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians saw 
that Larry Doby was leading the Negro National League with a .458 
batting average and 13 home runs. Veeck and Doby then made a historic 
decision, a decision that amounted to an act of faith in America's 
future. They decided that the opposition to Jackie Robinson's entry 
into the Major Leagues was a throwback, a vestige of the past, and that 
racial tolerance was the wave of the future. It was a brave choice and 
a tough choice, but, of course, it was the right choice. Larry Doby 
said later that Bill Veeck ``didn't see color. To me, he was in every 
sense colorblind, and I always knew he was there for me.''
  Mr. President, that was a very characteristically generous and 
gracious statement by Larry Doby because it was Larry Doby himself, 
after all, who had to be brave out on the playing field. Larry Doby had 
to be brave in a time of segregation and other terrible indignities 
inflicted on African-Americans. He showed the courage that was needed 
50 years ago, and all Americans today ought to be grateful for his 
example.
  Again, here is another quote from Larry Doby. ``Kids are our future, 
and we hope baseball has given them some idea of what it is to live 
together and how we can get along, whether you be black or white.''
  Mr. President, the accomplishments of Larry Doby on the baseball 
diamond are well known. In 1948, his first full season in the Major 
Leagues, he led the Indians to victory in the World Series, batting 
.318 and hitting a game-winning home run. He was named to the All Star 
team every single year from 1949 to 1955. In 1952, Larry Doby led the 
American League in home runs and in runs scored. Two years later, in 
1954, he led the league in home runs and in RBI's. He left the Indians 
in 1956 to play for the Chicago White Sox and later for the Detroit 
Tigers. Larry Doby retired in 1959 but returned to baseball in 1978 to 
manage the White Sox, becoming only the second African-American manager 
in the history of the major leagues. The first, as I stated, of course, 
as we know, was the great Frank Robinson, who managed the Cleveland 
Indians from 1975 to 1977.

  Mr. President, as I have said, Larry Doby's contribution to baseball 
is well known. That is why he was chosen to serve as honorary captain 
of this year's American League team at the All Star Game this past 
Tuesday night. But when everyone at Jacobs Field rose Tuesday night at 
the All Star Game to honor this great American, we thanked him even 
more for his message of reconciliation and racial brotherhood.
  I have a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer article from July 6, 
1947. This article described Larry Doby's first game as a Cleveland 
Indian. The headline reads, ``Doby Shows Strong Arm as He Works at 
Second Base.''
  I submit, Mr. President, that Larry Doby showed a lot more than that 
on that now distant July day. Larry Doby showed what America could and 
what America should be. So on behalf of people of the State of Ohio and 
on behalf of all Americans, I rise today in the Senate to say thank you 
to Larry Doby and to pay tribute to this very fine gentleman.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Washington is 
recognized.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 
minutes as if in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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