Larry Doby: The Forgotten Pioneer

There is a huge difference between a historical fact and trivia knowledge. A historical fact is a piece of common knowledge and trivia knowledge is esoteric information people learn to show off to their friends.

Everyone knows George Washington was the first President of the United States. If you know that Martin Van Buren was the eighth President, Jeff Foxworthy needs to have your cell number.

In the sports world, Roger Bannister being the first person to break the four-minute mile is basic information. However, although John Landy was the second to do so, he is mostly confused for the rotund actor that starred in Uncle Buck.

Jackie Robinson has been revered and honored for years for being the first black player in the major leagues. Sadly, Larry Doby's status in baseball lore is reduced to simply being an answer to a trivia question of who was the first black in the American League.

Lawrence Eugene Dody, the son of David and Etta Doby, was born in Camden, SC in 1923. David Doby was a World War I veteran who worked in the horse industry as a groom. Mr. Doby played semi-pro baseball and was known as a tremendous hitter.

Unfortunately, Larry Doby didn't get a chance to learn much baseball from his father. He was out of town working most of the time, and he died when Doby was still quite young.

His mother was absent quite often in Doby's upbringing as well as she moved to Paterson, NJ while he stayed in Camden living his with grandmother at first and eventually with his aunt and uncle.

It was at the Mather Academy in Camden that Larry Doby first participated in organized baseball and other sports.

He learned the intricacies of the art of baseball from Richard DuBose, a well-known presence in African-American baseball in South Carolina for more than 25 years. DuBose had also coached Doby's father.

In 1938, Larry Doby graduated from the eighth grade and moved to Paterson. Despite the move, he lived with a friend of his mother and only saw his mother one day a week.

At Eastside High School, Larry Doby earned 11 varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football, and track. While still in high school, Doby played with semi-pro teams in both baseball and basketball.

Before Doby graduated from high school, he played in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles under the assumed name of Larry Walker since high school students were not allowed to play. He played his first pro game at Yankee Stadium.

After graduation, Larry Dody continued to play for the Eagles throughout the summer.

In September of 1942, Doby attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship.  The situation was not to his liking so he transferred to Virginia Union.

In 1943, Larry Doby was drafted into the segregated Navy. For a time, he was stationed at Camp Robert Smalls in Great Lakes, IL where he was a physical education instructor.

Doby spent the last year of World War II on a coral reef in the Pacific unloading ships and organizing recreational activities for other servicemen.

After Larry Doby was discharged by the Navy in 1946, he returned to professional baseball. He spent the winter playing in Puerto Rico and then went back to the Newark Eagles to play second base.

For the Eagles in 1946, Doby batted a sparkling .348, and the Eagles won the Negro League World Series.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?