Published: April 03, 2008 03:30 pm         

Hall plaques part of Civil Rights Weekend

For the first time ever, the Hall of Fame plaques of Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson left their home in Cooperstown, as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum traveled the plaques to Memphis, Tenn., last weekend for a part of the Civil Rights Game Weekend festivities, according to acting- President Jeff Idelson.

“By sending original Hall of Fame treasures to Memphis, we are providing an opportunity for all fans who attend to see these representations of two Hall of Fame heroes up close and personal,” said Idelson. “By having the ability to touch baseball history, fans will gain a stronger appreciation of the adversity these two men overcame and their phenomenal careers as true baseball legends.”

The plaques were first on display Friday, March 28 at the National Civil Rights Museum from 4 to 6 p.m. as part of Major League Baseball’s “Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement” roundtable discussion, featuring noted guests Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, Sharon Robinson (daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson), New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams, Martin Luther King, III, and Ambassador Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X. On Saturday, March 29, the plaques were on display during the 2nd Annual Civil Rights Game, to be played at Memphis’ AutoZone Park, featuring the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. The plaques were on display from the time the gates opened through the 7th inning of the 4 p.m. game for all fans in attendance to view.

The Hall of Fame Gallery in Cooperstown features the plaques of the 280 members of the Hall of Fame, who have earned election either as a player, manager, executive or umpire. Goose Gossage, Dick Williams, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O’Malley and Billy Southworth will be inducted as the Hall of Fame class of 2008 on Sunday, July 27 in Cooperstown, at 1:30 p.m.