Congressional Record—Senate S12218
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S12218 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE October 9, 1998 enlisted in the army at the young age Larry Doby, and the essential fairness Dodgers pitching coach Red Adams, who of 19. Immediately, he was incor- of our American spirit, that at age 94, fashioned him into the durable and skillful porated into 59th Pioneer Infantry, Sam Lacy was recognized for his pitcher who would win 15 or more games 12 later to be known as the Corps of Engi- unique contribution to journalism and times and finish his career ranked fifth all- time with 3,574 strikeouts. neers. Even before Alex's infantry land- baseball. Mr. President, I am most ``No person ever meant more to my career ed in France, the boat on which he was pleased to take this opportunity to than Red Adams,'' Sutton said. ``Without traveling was attacked by enemy tor- congratulate Sam Lacy personally for him, I would not be standing in Cooperstown pedoes. Thus, he has experienced all as- his induction into the Hall of Fame and today.'' pects of warfare, both on the sea and in for his distinguished and exceptional There weren't a lot of dry eyes when Sut- the trenches of France and in the Ar- contribution to sports journalism. In ton finally pointed out his 20-month-old gonne forest. For his patriotic and he- honoring him, we also pay tribute to daughter Jacqueline, who was born 16 weeks premature and given little chance to survive, roic service, Schlehr has been awarded those great players of the past and and credited her with bringing his life and a WWI medal with three Battle Stars present who have given so much to the career into perspective. and is currently being reviewed for the sport of baseball. ``Thanks, little girl, for sticking around to French ``Legion of Honor'' medal. He is I ask that several articles from the be part of this. You make it perfect,'' said also considered a local hero. His serv- Baltimore Afro-American, which pro- Sutton, 53. ``I'm a very blessed man. I have ice has been exalted in his local news- vided the forum for Sam's journalistic my health. I'm part of a family that I love to paper, the Amherst Bee, and has been offerings, and the Baltimore Sun be be a part of. I've had a dream come true that is a validation of what my father taught me recognized by local and top govern- printed in the RECORD. The articles follow: a long time ago. You can have a dream and ment officials, all of whom contacted if you're willing to work for it, it can come him on his 100th birthday. [From the Baltimore Sun, July 27, 1998] true. With apologies to Lou Gehrig, I'm the Yet, Alexander Schlehr's desire to DIVERSE PATHS CROSS AT HALL luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have serve his country did not end at the PIONEERS DOBY, LACY SHARE DAIS WITH SUTTON everything in life I ever wanted.'' close of the war. When the war ended, ON INDUCTION DAY The makeup of the group of honorees clear- Schlehr graciously helped in handling (By Peter Schmuck) ly reflected the great progress that base- ballÐand societyÐhas made during the half- the personal belongings of discharged COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.ÐThey came from dif- officers. He has raised four children, century since Robinson broke through base- ferent places. Different backgrounds. Dif- ball's color barrier in 1947. one of which has served the United ferent eras. Doby would soon join Robinson in the States in wartime as well, and pros- Don Sutton, the son of a tenant farmer, major leagues, helping fulfill the dream that pered as a successful business man. won 324 games and was one of the most Lacy had articulated in countless newspaper Furthermore, he has received numer- steady and consistent pitchers of his genera- columns in the 1930s and early 1940sÐa ous awards and recognitions denoting tion. dream that sill seemed very distant when Larry Doby, the brilliant young Negro Rogan ended his playing career in 1938. his sixty years of service in the Amer- leagues outfielder who followed closely in ican Legion and the Commandeers. Jarrin would forge a link to the Latino com- the footsteps of Jackie Robinson, hit 253 munity in Los Angeles a decade later and I feel it is my duty to recognize the major-league home runs, but is better known outstanding service Alexander Schlehr emerge as the voice of baseball to millions of as the first black player in the American Hispanic baseball fans in the United States has given to this country during his 101 League. and Latin America. years of life. He is an example for all Sam Lacy, the sports editor and columnist Lacy, 94, gave the crowd a start when he Americans through his selfless and for the Baltimore Afro-American these past stumbled and fell on his way to the podium, courageous actions. I thank him for his 54 years, crusaded for the inclusion of black but he collected himself and delivered a players in the major leagues and, yesterday, dedication to our country and wish him poignant, humorous speech that included a was included in the large class that was in- call to more fully acknowledge the history a Happy 102nd Birthday this coming ducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. spring. and contributions of the black press. · The Class of '98 also included longtime ``I hope that my presence here . will f baseball executive Lee MacPhail, turn-of- impress on the American public that the the-century star George Davis, Negro TRIBUTE TO SAM LACY Negro press has a role that is recognized and leagues pitcher Joe Rogan and Spanish-lan- honored,'' Lacy said. · Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, it is guage broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, all of them Doby also gave a stirring acceptance a singular privilege for me to rise and honored during an emotional 11¤2-hour induc- speech, recounting a career that began with acknowledge that this past summer tion ceremony on the lawn of the Clark the four years he spent with the Newark Ea- Sam Lacy, one of the giants of Amer- Sports Center on the outskirts of Coopers- gles of the Negro leagues and took a historic town. turn when Cleveland Indians owner Bill ican sports journalism, was inducted It was Sutton who tugged hardest on the into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Coop- Veeck purchased his contract and brought heartstrings of the estimated crowd of 6,000 him right to the majors on July 5, 1947. erstown, New York on July 26. Sam with an elegant 20-minute acceptance speech ``Everything I have and my family has got Lacy, like Baltimore's great civil that traced his career from the uncut base- has come from baseball,'' he said. ``If some- rights leaders Thurgood Marshall and ball fields of the rural South to the stage one had told me 50 years ago that I would be Clarence Mitchell, Jr., was a pioneer in where he stood in front of 33 past Hall of here today, I would not have believed it.'' the great struggle to expand the par- Fame inductees to see his plaque unveiled. Pressed later for details of indignities he ``I've wanted this for over 40 years,'' he ticipation of all Americans in our na- suffered as one of the pioneer black players, said, ``so why am I standing here shaking he responded without rancor or bitterness. tional life. The path he chose, however, like a leaf? Probably because I'm standing in was not the corridors of legal or politi- ``It's a tough thing to look back and think front of these wonderful artists of our game. about things that were probably negative,'' cal power, nor the streets and side- If you can't feel the aura when you walk said Doby. ``You put those things on the walks of protest, but rather the silent through the Hall of Fame, check tomorrow's back burner. You're proud to have played a and eloquent power of his pen. obituary column . because you're in it.'' part in the integration of baseball. I feel this His career in journalism, which Sutton thanked his father for the work is the proof that we all can work together, spanned over 50 years, began in the ethic that carried him through 23 major- live together and be successful together.'' throes of a segregated society which league seasons. He lovingly acknowledged his late mother, Lillian, his wife, Mary, and deprived talented athletes of color the [From the Baltimore Afro-American, Aug. 1, his children. 1998] right to give their best in the field of He thanked Hall of Fame teammates LACY: A MAN WHO STANDS FOR SOMETHING competition. Sam Lacy, using his gift Sandy Koufax and the late Don Drysdale, AND FALLS FOR NOTHING of writing combined with a pleasant who inadvertently ushered him into the but persistent demeanor, helped to major leagues with their dual contract hold- (By Tony White) break down these barriers thereby en- out in 1966, then guided him through his first There's an old saying that goes: ``If you riching immeasurably the quality and season. He thanked the late Dodgers man- don't stand for something, you'll fall for equality of our revered ``National Pas- ager Walter Alston, who took a chance on anything.'' Sam Lacy has literally made a him in his youth, and former Angels man- career out of taking stands.