Honoring Larry Doby #14 - August 10, 2007

This year, as they did in 1997, Major League Baseball has spent a great deal of time honoring the great Jackie Robinson. 2007 represents 60 years since Robinson broke the MLB color barrier.

Last week, I watched a documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers called the 'Ghosts of Flatbush,' which chronicled that great team most known today for helping Robinson break the color barrier. A few days later my father-in-law, who grew up in Bay Ridge, sent me a Star Ledger (NJ) article detailing the professional career of Larry Doby.

Just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the National League color barrier, Doby joined the Cleveland Indians to break the color barrier in the American League. Doby helped the Indians win a World Series title in 1948, was a 9 time All Star, and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 1997, Doby threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Cleveland's Jacobs Field. Doby, who was born and raised in Paterson, NJ, died on June 18, 2003 in Montclair, NJ.

On August 10, 2007, the Indians will honor Doby by all players wearing his #14 on "Larry Doby Day."