Great Photo of Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby!

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Jackie Robinson and Memphis Red Sox Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:

Great Photo of Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby!

That’s Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson. But who’s sitting on the dugout steps? Hint: it’s from 1953.

This photo was taken during an exhibition game played at Martin Park in Memphis, Tennessee, not too long before the demise of the Negro Leagues in 1954. The man in the middle is Matty Brescia, the long-time public director for the Memphis Red Sox. Not sure who the young lad on the right is. Possibly it’s Jackie Robinson, Jr., who would have been seven in 1953. The occasion may have been a Negro League exhibition game which included black ball players who made it to the majors. If anyone can add any more information about the photo, please do so.

Check out the photo gallery above to see a hodge-podge of some of the best photos I could find of Jackie’s family life, along with a few of the Memphis Red Sox, and a couple other surprises. Hope you enjoy it!

 Also, here’s a little information about the Memphis Red Sox (from Wikipedia):

“The Memphis Red Sox formed the western anchor of Southern black baseball from the 1920s through the demise of the Negro Leagues. For the greater part of the 1920s the club played in the Negro National League. At times the team played independently or in the Negro Southern League, but in 1937 the Red Sox became charter members of the new Negro American League. Despite solid lineups, the Red Sox never seemed to live up to their potential during the 1940s, consistently finishing in the league’s middle or lower division.”

Answer to the ball player sitting on the left: It’s none other than a young Ernie Banks! Ernie made his debut with the Cubs on September 17, 1953, so this one was probably taken sometime in 1953 before his call-up to the Cubs. Looks like he’s got on a Kansas City monarchs uniform.

-Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: The featured photo is from the Collection of the Smithsonian, Museum of African-American History and Culture. The photographer is Ernest C. Withers. All others found on Google search.

Information: Excerpts edited from the Memphis Red Sox Wikipedia page.

Gary Livacari

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire” and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation