The boys in Larry Doby’s neighborhood- tall and short, Black and white, slow and fast- all played baseball together. Many heard an announcer in their head, giving the play by play of every throw and catch.
When young Larry stepped to the plate, he longed to hear: “Now batting ..atting ….atting for the Brooklyn Dodgers …odgers …odgers LARRY …ARRY …ARRY DOBY …OBY …OBY”
But while Larry was growing up in the 1920s and ’30s, there were no Black players in Major League Baseball. None. The door was closed to Black players.
It didn’t seem like a door to Larry. Doors can open. To him, it looked like a wall. His world didn’t even allow him to dream of reaching the major leagues.
The world would have to change.
When Larry was a boy in Camden, South Carolina, the South was largely segregated, but his neighborhood was not. “I went to one school, they went to another school,” Larry said. “And when school was out, we came home. We lived on the same block and we played… and we never thought about color.”
Comprehension Questions
1. Who did Larry play baseball with?
A. Only his Black neighbors
B. Neighborhood boys regardless of color
C. His school friends
2. Why could Larry not play Major League Baseball?
A. There were no Black players
B. He didn't have the money
C. He didn't have the skill
A. There were no Black players
B. He didn't have the money
C. He didn't have the skill
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.