At the Bat
Finally, Doby can celebrate
The baseball Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee rectified a severe injustice yesterday.Larry Doby, a star outfielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1947-59, was inducted into the Hall.Over his 12-year career, Doby launched 253 home runs and knocked in 969 runs. That’s an average of 21 homers and 81 RBI a year. Good stats, especially when coupled with a career batting average of .283, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Doby was a seven-time All-Star and later became a manager and executive.Larry Doby was the first black man to play in the American League. And every baseball fan and player owes him almost as much thanks as they owe to Jackie Robinson.Doby made it to ‘The Show’ 11 weeks after Robinson. He faced much of the same abuse as Robinson, including some teammates who wouldn’t shake his hand. It’s hard to imagine the courage it took for Doby to face these challenges and not only become a player, but a star. Fifty-one years ago, the culture in the United States – and in baseball – was vastly different than it is now.Before Robinson, a black man in the major leagues was almost unthinkable. Branch Rickey took the plunge, signing Robinson, and the Indians followed shortly after by bringing Doby to the majors.Both players were met with derision and abuse. Both kept their dignity and responded with great play on the field and dignified actions off the field.Yet Doby was overlooked until this year by the Hall of Fame. That’s deplorable.While he wasn’t the first, he was the first in the American League and that should count for something. From a purely statistical standpoint, he probably wasn’t qualified. However, this situation is about much more than statistics.It’s about courage. It’s about willing to stand up for what is right and what should be done. And it’s about the Veterans Committee – and the Hall of Fame voters – inexplicably not putting Doby in the Hall earlier.Gene Budig, AL president, appointed Doby to a special assistant position in his office a few years ago and summed up Doby’s accomplishments perfectly.’Few have done so much for the game,’ Budig told the Associated Press. Doby himself, who has been disappointed so many times before, handled his acceptance to Cooperstown with typical grace.’You think about some of the changes that have happened in baseball,’ he told the AP. ‘It’s a feeling of struggle in the past. It’s a feeling of a certain amount of relief. It’s a great feeling.’It’s a feeling Doby should have felt much sooner. Yet the Hall of Fame selection committees continue to mystify with their requirements for election.Stats seem to play a large part, yet some statistically outstanding players have been left out. Some statistically deficient players have been inducted.Yet only one other man – Robinson – did what Doby did. They were the trailblazers and both deserve to be in the Hall. Congratulations, Larry. It’s been a long time coming.
