The Camden Archives and Museum, 1314 Broad St., will have a special stamp dedication ceremony on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 11 a.m., honoring baseball great, Larry Doby. Doby, a Camden native and former Negro League star, was the first African-American to break the color barrier in the American League in 1947, 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson entered the National League. Drafted by Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians, he is South Carolina’s only member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Larry Doby is one of four baseball greats featured on the new Major League All Star Forever stamps, including Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Willie Stargell. A seven-time All Star, he was the first African-American to hit a home run in a World Series. He had a career batting average of .283, with 970 RBIs and 253 home runs, leading the American League in home runs twice in his career. Larry Doby faced prejudice with dignity and courage, and helped make baseball a sport for all Americans.

Speakers include Larry Doby’s youngest daughter, Kimberly, Mayor Jeffrey Graham, Greater South Carolina Postal District Manager, Gerald Roane, and former N.Y. Yankee great and University of South Carolina baseball coach, Bobby Richardson. An extensive collection of Larry Doby memorabilia is on display at the museum, including a model for a sculpture, which will soon be placed on the lawn.

The U. S. Postal Service will sell the stamps on-site, and provide a special “hometown station” pictorial cancellation to commemorate the date. The service is free, but must be applied to First-Class Postage. The cancellations will only be available at the event, and by mail for 30 days afterward. Send requests, along with self-addressed, stamped envelopes, (so that envelopes are not over-cancelled) to: Postmaster/Hometown Station/542 E. Dekalb St. Camden, SC 29020-9998.

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