[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
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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;


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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.