MONTCLAIR, N.J., June 24 (UPI) -- Former major league groundbreaker Larry Doby was eulogized on Monday at a funeral service in Montclair, N.J.
Doby, who died last Wednesday at the age of 79, broke the color barrier in the American League in 1947 shortly after Jackie Robinson did it for all of Major League Baseball.
About 500 people attended the service.
""I think he was proudest of the fact that he enabled other people to make their dreams come true," his son, Larry Doby Jr., told the Bergen Record. "(Because of him) I could go to bed at night and dream about being Hank Aaron."
In a 13-year major league career, Doby hit .283 with 253 home runs and 970 RBI in 1,533 games and was a key contributor to pennant-winning teams for the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and '54.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1998.
Doby had his No. 14 retired by the Indians in 1994.
