    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    DEATH OF LAWRENCE EUGENE ``LARRY'' DOBY--CONDOLENCES
    <>

    Whereas on December 12, 1923, Larry Doby was born in Camden, South
    Carolina and moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1938, where he became
    a standout 4 sport athlete at Paterson Eastside High School;

    Whereas Larry Doby attended Long Island University on a basketball
    scholarship before enlisting in the United States Navy;

    Whereas in 1943, Larry Doby was the first African American to play
    professional basketball for the Paterson Panthers, a member of the
    American Basketball League;

    Whereas after playing baseball in the Negro League for the Newark
    Eagles, Larry Doby's contract was purchased by Bill Veeck of Major
    League Baseball's Cleveland Indians, a member of the American
    League, on July 3, 1947;

    Whereas on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby became the first African American to
    play professional baseball in the American League;

    Whereas Larry Doby played in the American League for 13 years, appearing
    in 1,533 games and batting .283, with 253 home runs and 969 runs
    batted in;

    Whereas in 1948, Larry Doby was the first African American to win a
    World Series and the first African American to hit a home run in the
    World Series;

    Whereas Larry Doby was voted to play in 7 All Star games and led the
    American League in home runs for two seasons;

    Whereas in 1978, Larry Doby became the manager of the Chicago White Sox,
    only the second African American manager of a Major League team;

    [[Page 2956]]
    117 STAT. 2956

    Whereas Larry Doby was the Director of Community Relations for the
    National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets, where he was
    deeply involved in a number of inner-city youth programs;

    Whereas Larry Doby resided, was active in the community, and raised his
    family in Montclair, New Jersey;

    Whereas Larry Doby received honorary doctorate degrees from Princeton
    University, Long Island University and Fairfield University; and

    Whereas Larry Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in
    1998: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
    That the Congress--
    (1) expresses profound sorrow on the death of Lawrence
    Eugene ``Larry'' Doby, and extends condolences to his family;
    (2) expresses its deep appreciation to Larry Doby and his
    family for the impact that he made in pioneering civil rights by
    breaking down racial barriers in baseball and in America; and
    (3) commends Larry Doby as a courageous leader, a role
    model, and a paradigm of the American Dream.

    Agreed to September 17, 2003.