Doby to be honored in special ceremony

First, there was Jackie Robinson and then there was Larry Doby, but before both of them there was Marion Motley and Bill Willis.

Cleveland sports teams arguably do not get enough credit for their part in breaking color barriers for Black athletes, but that will be remedied somewhat on July 2 when the Guardians honor the 75th anniversary of Doby breaking the color barrier in the American League on July 5, 1947 as a member of the Indians.

The Guardians will celebrate the event July 2 by wearing a patch honoring Doby on their jerseys. The first 15,000 fans attending the 6:10 p.m. game with

the Yankees at Progressive Field will receive a replica of Doby’s 1947 jersey.

Doby made his debut by striking out in his only at-bat in a game against the Chicago White Sox in a game at Comiskey Park. Doby’s first appearance in a major-league game occurred less than three months after Robinson became the first Black player in the majors when he debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

About four hours before the game July 1 with the Yankees was scheduled to begin, Guardians vice president of public affairs

Bobby DiBiasio led a ceremony unveiling on an outside wall of Progressive Field a mural painted by local artist Glen Infante depicting Doby flanked by Satchel Paige and Frank Robinson.

Doby and Paige were both signed by Bill Veeck, who owned the Indians from 1946-49. Paige was the seventh Black player in the majors, but more notably he was the first Black pitcher — and at age 42 the oldest man ever to debut in a major-league game when he pitched in relief of Bob Lemon on July 9, 1948.

Robinson became the first Black man to manage in the majors when he transitioned from being a player on the Indians roster in 1974 to being named Player-Manager in 1975. In storybook fashion, Robinson hit a

home run in his first at-bat as Indians’ manager.

“I had to do some research to get some photos,” Infante said. “One of the images wasn’t clear and I had to make some changes. I had to get permission to use some of the images. I found some unique photos that worked.”

All three men in Infante’s mural have their place in the history of Cleveand baseball.

“I’m very proud, because those names are icons in the game of baseball and to Cleveland a little more special,” said Larry Doby Jr., who flew to Cleveland from his home in New Jersey to be on hand for the mural reveal. “I think my dad would be very happy to share the spotlight with those two gentlemen.”

COURTESY CLEVELAND GUARDIANS Artist Glen Infante speaks July 1in front of a mural outside Progressive Field honoring Larry Doby, Frank Ronbinson and Satchel Paige.