Sports History

Lawrence Eugene Doby, "Larry" to the world, etched his name in baseball history as both a fearless trailblazer and a talented slugger. Born in 1923, Doby first starred in the Negro Leagues, leading the Newark Eagles to a championship in 1946. In 1947, he became the second African-American player in the Major Leagues, following Jackie Robinson, when he debuted for the Cleveland Indians.

He faced the brunt of racism and hostility, but Doby persevered, batting .270 with 14 home runs in his rookie season. The next year, he hit a team-high 27 home runs and helped the Indians capture the American League pennant. Doby went on to play 13 seasons in the Majors, primarily with Cleveland, showcasing his power with 253 career home runs and finishing with a solid .283 batting average.

Beyond his statistics, Doby's legacy resonates because of his courage and leadership. He paved the way for future generations of Black players, earning induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. After his playing days, Doby served as a scout and executive, further contributing to the game he loved. Larry Doby, the quiet giant, forever stands tall as a symbol of resilience and progress in baseball history.

ThisDayinBaseball.com takes a wide sweep of May 29 baseball history an among the items in their net are pieces of history such as:
1880 - Boston with George Wright in its lineup‚ upsets a tough Chicago squad.
1905 - Possibly the 1st spitball is thrown by a player named Elmer Stricklett
1916 - Christy Mathewson pitches the New York Giants to their 17th consecutive road victory.


1928 - Bill Terry hits for the cycle to lead the Giants to a 12 – 5 win over Brooklyn.

1941 - Ted Williams is 3 for 5 and scores a pair in the Red Sox’s 6 – 4 win over the A’s. Ted will score 2 or more runs for the next 7 games, giving him 8 in a row.

1942 - New York’s Lefty Gomez‚ self-described as the worst-hitting pitcher in baseball‚ bangs out 4 hits in pitching a four-hit‚ 16 – 1 victory over Washington. They are his last major league hits. Buddy Hassett adds 4 hits as well.

1951 -Indians hurler Bob Lemon one-hits the Tigers, 2 – 1.

1955 - Larry Doby of the Indians hits the first major league homer.