Robinson, a National League player, was the first African American player. But Larry Doby, a Paterson native, was the second Major League player and the first African American to belong to baseball’s American League. And one Patersonian wants to make sure that more young people today are aware of Doby, and other hometown heroes.

“Doby was … a National Figure,” said Mr. Benjie Wimberly, Paterson’s director of recreation and a former baseball coach at Eastside High School.

According to Mr. Wimberly, the best way to make sure Paterson students are aware of that is to make Paterson’s heritage part of the school district curriculum. He said he would like to approach the school board in the future with a proposal.

“There’s an array of outstanding Patersonians that can be in the curriculum as far as athletes and pioneers,” Mr. Wimberly said.

But Doby holds a special place in Mr. Wimberly’s heart. That is why in July, Mr. Wimberly organized a tribute to Larry Doby at Larry Doby Field in Paterson to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the baseball legend’s breaking the American League color barrier. Mr. Wimberly also helped build Larry Doby Field and founded the Doby Basketball League.

Larry Doby, who played for the Cleveland Indians, was not only the first African

American to play in the American Leagues, but he was also the first African American to lead his leagues in homers, the first to hit a World Series homer and the first to win a World Series Title.

It may be true that few students know about Doby’s place in baseball history. Of ten students interviewed at Rosa L. Parks School of Fine & Performing Arts, only one student knew of Doby.

“Isn’t he a baseball player?” said Vocal Major Danneille Galbraith. She said that her sixth grade teacher assigned a report on Doby for Black History Month.

Most students only knew about Jackie Robinson.

“Jackie Robinson opened up gateways for other African American baseball players,” said Junior Fine Art Major Julian Edwards. “He inspired others to become baseball players.”

History Teacher Mr. Michael Ollo acknowledged that Jackie Robinson receives a lot of recognition. “ Doby was underrated,” he said.