Congressional Record—House H5648
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H5648 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 19, 2003 There was no objection. or maybe to New York, more recog- and catcher Jim Hegan, and coach Bill f nized as media centers than the corn- McKechnie. They were the closest to fields of eastern Indiana, and Jim him that first year. He also was friends GARFIELD’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY: Davis said to me, ‘‘Mike, I always turn with the late Arthur Grant, the father ‘‘I’LL RISE, BUT I WON’T SHINE’’ them down, because you have to have a of one of my childhood friends, Laureen The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a sense of humor to live in Indiana.’’ Let Grant Beach. On many occasions I had previous order of the House, the gen- us hope Jim Davis and this big orange an opportunity to see him and enjoy tleman from Indiana (Mr. PENCE) is cat always live in Indiana. They are a time with his daughter Kristie. recognized for 5 minutes. source of pride, not only their cre- As a baseball pioneer, Doby also re- Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, as the Con- ativity and their energy, but their phi- ceived encouragement from black ce- gressman who represents Muncie, Indi- lanthropy and their commitment to lebrities of the era. Heavyweight box- ana, and Delaware County, home to the the quality of life for the families of ing champion Joe Louis, singers Lena most famous cat in the world, I rise our region. Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah today for the awesome and important We thank you, Jim. Congratulations Washington and musicians Duke duty to pay a happy birthday wish to to you and that big, fat, lazy cat. Ellington and Count Basie were among those who contacted him. Garfield. Not President Garfield, but f someone probably more famous in this When centerfielder Thurman Tucker day and age than that, a large, orange, MOURNING THE PASSING OF was injured in May, Indians manager slovenly, lazy cat, born in the mind of LARRY DOBY, FIRST BLACK Lou Boudreau moved Doby into his an Indiana native by the name of Jim PLAYER IN AMERICAN LEAGUE spot. He stayed there for 10 years, he Davis who, along with Garfield and lit- HISTORY recalled. ‘‘The Cleveland fans were erally dozens of artists and artisans, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a great. They never booed me, even when make their home near Muncie, Indiana, previous order of the House, the gentle- I made a mistake.’’ Doby hit .301 with 14 homers as the the world headquarters of Paws, Incor- woman from Ohio (Mrs. JONES) is rec- Indians won the 1948 pennant. In the porated. ognized for 5 minutes. playoff game against Boston for the It was, in fact, today in 1978 that the Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, American League flag, he belted two Garfield strip debuted in 41 U.S. news- Hall of Famer Larry Doby, the first doubles. His most famous homer came papers. Several months after its black baseball player in American in the fourth game of the 1948 World launch, the Chicago Sun-Times abrupt- League history, died last night at the Series at Municipal Stadium when he ly canceled the Cat. Over 1,300 angry age of 78 in his home in Montclair, New connected to give Steve Gromek a 2–1 readers, it is reported, immediately de- Jersey. Larry Doby was one of the victory and the Indians a three-games- manded that Garfield be reinstated. As Cleveland Indians finest centerfielders, to-one lead over the Boston Braves. a slugger with speed. He was with the they say, the rest is history. Today, 263 After the game, Doby and Gromek were Indians in one of their most successful million readers across the globe read photographed hugging each other in ju- Garfield in 2,570 newspapers every day. eras, from 1947 to 1955 during which bilation. The picture is considered a Recently, Guinness World Records they won two league pennants and a civil rights milestone. It was the first named this cat, Garfield, the most World Series, besides finishing second widely publicized photo of two baseball widely syndicated comic strip in the to the New York Yankees four times. players of different races embraced in world. It all comes proudly from east He hit a decisive home run as the Indi- victory. central Indiana. ans won their last World Series in 1948. Doby led the Indians in hitting in the It is said that people relate to Gar- He led the league in home runs and series with an average of .318. Players field because Garfield, in many ways, is runs batted in when the Indians soon accepted him because of his abil- them. ‘‘He’s a human in a cat suit,’’ his romped to the American League pen- ity. Doby, 6–1 and 180 pounds, quickly creator Jim Davis likes to say. Garfield nant in 1954, winning 111 games, the established himself as a first-rate play- loves TV and he hates Mondays. He fourth most in baseball history. er. In 1950 when he hit three homers in would rather pig out than work out. In Larry survived and endured many ra- a game, batted .326 and drove in 102 fact, his passion for food and sleep is cial insults after arriving in the majors runs, the Sporting News chose him as matched only by his aversion to diet only 3 months after the first black the best centerfielder in baseball, and exercise, a cat after my own heart. player, Jackie Robinson, of the old ahead of Joe DiMaggio and Duke He would like mornings better if they Brooklyn Dodgers. He never seemed to Snider. He topped the league in hom- started later, coffee ‘‘strong enough to hold any grudges because of the tor- ers, 32, and runs batted in, 124, in the sit up and bark,’’ and, he pledges regu- ment. Doby is quoted as saying, ‘‘Life pennant year of 1954 when the Indians larly, ‘‘I’ll rise but I won’t shine.’’ is too short for that. People who judge won 111 and lost 43 games for a winning Jim Davis, born in July of 1945 in others based on the color of their skin percentage of .721, a league record that Marion, Indiana, was raised on a small have more problems than I do.’’ still stands. Black Angus cow farm. He graduated When he first stepped onto a major The Indians traded him subsequently from Ball State University in Muncie, league field on July 3, 1947, amid a del- to Chicago on October 25, 1955. He then Indiana, where he majored in art and uge of publicity, he was an uncertain, with the White Sox, had a rebound, he business and he is the founder and nervous 22-year-old. He knew that went to Baltimore in a six-player deal president of Paws, Incorporated, a full many fans and teammates resented his in 1958, and then in 1959 he was sent service licensing studio created and es- presence at Municipal Stadium. Doby back to Cleveland to play. tablished in eastern Indiana. They have batted only 32 times that first season Doby was chosen for seven All-Star received numerous awards, including and got five hits, a paltry .156 average. teams in his career. His lifetime stats four Emmys and the National Car- He stated, ‘‘It was one of the toughest show a .283 batting average and 253 toonist Society award, just to name a things I ever had to go through. I had home runs. few. never sat on the bench before and now Mr. Speaker, I would like to give So I rise today in the midst of serious all I could do was sit and watch.’’ He credit to Bob Dolgan, the Plain Dealer debates and serious discussions to pay had come up as a second baseman with reporter from whom I obtained a lot of tribute to a very large, orange Amer- the Newark Eagles of the Negro League this information. I hope that all my ican tradition, here shown bursting out where he was hitting .420. But he was colleagues will join me in mourning of his birthday cake on this, the 25th not going to displace Joe Gordon, the the death of a baseball great, Larry anniversary. team’s cleanup hitter who had been the Doby. I will never forget, Mr. Speaker, as I league’s most valuable player as a f close, Jim Davis and I first became ac- member of the Yankees in 1942. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a quainted 15 years ago. He told me of all Doby survived because of the support previous order of the House, the gentle- the offers he had had through the years he received from his late wife Helyn; woman from Tennessee (Mrs. to move Garfield, which is internation- Indians owner Bill Veeck, who brought BLACKBURN) is recognized for 5 min- ally syndicated, maybe to Los Angeles him to the majors; teammates Gordon utes. VerDate Jan 31 2003 05:37 Jun 20, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K19JN7.136 H19PT1.