reprinted from the Montclair Times

Postal Service commemorates Larry Doby in newest stamp series

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, 1:50 AM

BY KEVIN MEACHAM
OF THE MONTCLAIR TIMES

Larry Doby's baseball career was defined by grace, courage and strength, and those qualities have now been immortalized by the U.S. Postal Service.

The new 'Forever' stamp featuring baseball Hall of Famer and former Montclair resident Larry Doby.

A stamp featuring Doby — the second African-American to play in the major leagues, and a former resident of Montclair — will be issued by the USPS in 2012. The design, which was released on Aug. 19, shows the Hall of Famer in his batting stance, glaring intensely at the pitcher, set to unleash a mighty swing.

Part of a series commemorating four Major League Baseball legends, the stamp honoring Doby – who lived in Montclair near Nishuane Park upon his retirement from MLB in 1960 until his death in June 2003 – drew unanimous praise from local officials and community leaders.

"Larry Doby was and is a hero for baseball, America and the African-American community," said Thomas Reynolds, president of the Montclair Chapter of the NAACP. "He ensured that Jackie Robinson wouldn't be the last … he is a constant reminder that without the great 'seconds,' the mission of the 'first' would be no more than a fairytale."

"Years after his death, Larry Doby remains a cornerstone of pride for the communities of Paterson, Montclair and the United States of America," U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell said in a statement. "There is something very special about having Larry Doby's legacy preserved by a U.S. postage stamp. People across the nation can share in honoring what he gave to the game and to our country."

While he is best remembered as a social pioneer and a trailblazer for African-Americans in the sport, Doby was one of the top players in the major leagues during his 13-year career, earning seven All-Star appearances, clubbing 253 career home runs and concluding his career with a lifetime batting average of .283. Doby became the second African-American major-league manager in 1978, when he took charge of the Chicago White Sox. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Doby's legend began in Paterson, where he was a star athlete at the Eastside High School. At the age of 18, he tried out for the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, making the team. He played for the Newark team for two seasons, 1942 and 1943, before serving in the U.S. Navy until the end of World War II.

He played a third season with the Eagles in 1946 before drawing the interest of Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck, who signed Doby in 1947. Doby made his debut in centerfield on July 5, 1947, becoming the first black player in American League history, six weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the major leagues' color barrier.

Doby appeared in just 29 games in 1947, but he had a breakout year in 1948, batting .301 during the regular season and leading the Indians to a World Series victory, that franchise's most recent championship. Doby hit .318 in the Series, including the first postseason home run by a black player.

After his playing days, Doby moved to Montclair, where he became a pillar of the community.

"Whatever you asked him to do, he would do it, especially for the kids," said Montclair At-Large Township Councilman Roger Terry, who attended Montclair High School with one of Doby's daughters. "He was good like that. He never forgot where he came from."

"It's only appropriate that Larry Doby be part of this country's collective memory, considering his courage and contributions to baseball and subsequently society," stated Dave Kaplan, director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, where Doby would occasionally visit to speak with students. "Anything to celebrate his life and legacy is a good thing."

In November 2002, shortly before Doby's death, the Berra Museum unveiled a collection of Negro League artifacts, which would eventually be named the Larry Doby Gallery.

Doby's stamp is the second in a series of four "Forever" stamps commemorating Major League Baseball All-Stars. New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio was the first player honored, and Pittsburgh Pirate legend Willie Stargell will be the third. A fourth player will be named at a later date. "Forever" stamps are equal in value to the current postage rate, regardless of future increases, according to the Postal Service.