Public Law 115–322: To award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of Lawrence Eugene “Larry” Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II.

The Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act

Larry Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina, on December 13, 1923, and moved to Paterson, New Jersey, in 1938, where he became a standout four-sport athlete at Paterson Eastside High School;

Larry Doby attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II;

upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Larry Doby played baseball in the Negro National League for the Newark Eagles;

after playing the 1946 season, Larry Doby’s contract was purchased by the Cleveland Indians of the American League on July 3, 1947;

on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby became the first African-American to play in the American League;

Larry Doby played in the American League for 13 years, appearing in 1,533 games and batting .283, with 253 home runs and 970 runs batted in;

Larry Doby was voted to seven All-Star teams, led the American League in home runs twice, and played in two World Series;

in 1948, Larry Doby helped lead the Cleveland Indians to a World Series Championship over the Boston Braves and became the first African-American player to hit a home run in a World Series game;

after his stellar playing career ended, Larry Doby continued to make a significant contribution to his community;

Larry Doby was a pioneer in the cause of civil rights and received honorary doctorate degrees from Long Island University, Princeton University, and Fairfield University;132 STAT. 4441

in 1978, Larry Doby became the manager of the Chicago White Sox, only the second African-American manager of a Major League Baseball team;

Larry Doby was the Director of Community Relations for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association, where he was deeply involved in a number of inner-city youth programs; and

Larry Doby was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, in honor of Larry Doby and in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II.

For the purpose of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the “Secretary”) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.

Following the presentation of the gold medal in honor of Larry Doby pursuant to subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to his son, Larry Doby, Jr.

The medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.132 STAT. 4442

For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.