June 11, 2016

A special day today at THE JOE.  Imagine, sitting there Mike Veeck, the former owner of the RiverDogs, now with the St. Paul Saints!  He was our inspiration for our research into the life of Larry Doby, and our expansion into film making for our young students.

Behind the scenes, we were able to secure an interview with Mike, and learned of his new team in Minnesota, and also of his support of diversity and how to perform outreach to all.

“Hire good people! What we do is not brain surgery, but it requires thought and dedication. ”

We know that without Mike’s interview and time he spent with us, we would have never found our pathway into making films, and understanding the breaking of the color line by Larry Doby in 1947, following Jackie Robinson three months earlier.  While Doby is considered #2, he went through the same discrimination as did Robinson!  We love them both!.

When asked who influenced him the most during his life – his answer?

“My father Bill Veeck, Larry Doby and Bob Dillon!”  Bill Veeck was with the Cleveland Indians and recruited Larry Doby in 1947 just three months after Jackie Robinson was brought in by Branch Rickey.   Larry Doby was #2 behind Jackie Robinson in 1947, and Bob Dillon.  Well, that’s music right!