Bill Text: NJ SR92 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urges Congress to enact "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-08-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR92 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR92-Introduced.html

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 92

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED AUGUST 27, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH P. CRYAN

District 20 (Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges Congress to enact "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Senate Resolution urging Congress to enact the "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act."

 

Whereas, Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby became the first African-American player in the history of the American League when he played for the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947, helping to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball; and

Whereas, Prior to embarking on his career in baseball, Doby attended high school at the Paterson Eastside High School in Paterson New Jersey, where he was a multi-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football, as well as lettering in track; and

Whereas, In 1943, Doby enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and earning an honorable discharge in 1946; and

Whereas, Doby went on to an outstanding career in baseball: he was named an All-Star center fielder seven times; and he and teammate Satchel Paige were the first African-American players to win the World Series; and

Whereas, Doby later became only the second African-American manager in Major League history when he led the Chicago White Sox during the 1978 season; and

Whereas, Doby was selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 by the Hall's Veterans Committee; and

Whereas, Doby also played for the Newark Eagles, and would serve as Director of Communications and Director of Community Affairs for the New Jersey Nets before retiring to his home in Montclair, New Jersey; and

Whereas, Doby's personal struggle to succeed in an arena that had been closed to African-American players, his extraordinary success and sportsmanship as a Major League player despite the overwhelming obstacles, his service in the United States Navy in World War II, and his efforts to inspire young people by speaking to them at schools throughout the country, have earned for him the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards awarded by the United States; and

Whereas, The United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 1861, the "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act," on July 10, 2018 in recognition of "his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II;" now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact the "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act."

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate; The Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives; and every member of Congress elected from this State.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution urges Congress to enact the "Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act."

     Larry Doby was the second African-American professional baseball player to play in the Major Leagues, and the first to play in the American League.  He went on to an outstanding career in baseball.  He was named an All-Star center fielder seven times.  He and teammate Satchel Paige were the first African-American players to win the World Series in 1948.  He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

     Doby moved to New Jersey while he was a boy, establishing a close connection to the State.  He attended the Paterson Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, where he was a multi-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football, as well as lettering in track.  He played for the Newark Eagles before joining the American League, and he worked for the New Jersey Nets from 1980 to 1990.  He died in 2003 at his home in Montclair.

     Doby's personal struggle to succeed in an arena that had been closed to African-American players, his extraordinary success and sportsmanship as a Major League player despite the overwhelming obstacles, his service in the United States Navy in World War II, and his efforts to inspire young people by speaking to them at schools throughout the country, have earned for him the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards awarded by the United States.

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