[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-322
115th Congress

An Act


 
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. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``The Larry Doby Congressional Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) 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;
(2) Larry Doby attended Long Island University on a
basketball scholarship before enlisting in the United States
Navy during World War II;
(3) upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946,
Larry Doby played baseball in the Negro National League for the
Newark Eagles;
(4) after playing the 1946 season, Larry Doby's contract was
purchased by the Cleveland Indians of the American League on
July 3, 1947;
(5) on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby became the first African-
American to play in the American League;
(6) 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;
(7) Larry Doby was voted to seven All-Star teams, led the
American League in home runs twice, and played in two World
Series;
(8) 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;
(9) after his stellar playing career ended, Larry Doby
continued to make a significant contribution to his community;
(10) 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;

[[Page 4441]]

(11) in 1978, Larry Doby became the manager of the Chicago
White Sox, only the second African-American manager of a Major
League Baseball team;
(12) 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
(13) Larry Doby was inducted to the National Baseball Hall
of Fame in 1998.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Presentation Authorized.--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.
(b) Design and Striking.--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.
(c) <>  Transfer of Medal After
Presentation.--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.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

[[Page 4442]]

(b) Numismatic Items.--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.

Approved December 17, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1861:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
July 10, considered and passed House.
Dec. 6, considered and passed Senate.