Larry Doby and Monte Irvin deserve to have their names on Paterson Streets

With the first Thanksgiving Day game at Hinchliffe Stadium in 27 years behind us, and as Congress presents the Congressional Gold Medal to Larry Doby, thanks to the efforts of Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., 2024 will be the first full year of Hinchliffe Stadium's revival.

This coming year will mark the 90th anniversary of the New York Black Yankees playing their first full season at Hinchliffe, the 90th anniversary of Dizzy Dean pitching against the Black Yankees at the Paterson site, a mere 10 days after winning the World Series, and the 100th edition of the Eastside/Kennedy game.

Baseball history sets Hinchliffe apart

While Hinchliffe Stadium had been built for football, it was baseball that marked the time. With over 20 Baseball Hall of Famers gracing Hinchliffe's hallowed grounds, it is safe to say, that without the contributions of the great men of the Negro Leagues, Hinchliffe Stadium may not be with us today.

Of the Baseball Hall of Famers that played there, there are two that rise above the rest as both of their careers began at Hinchliffe Stadium. The narratives of Doby and Monte Irvin is a large part of what makes Hinchliffe Stadium a special historic destination.

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In 1937, a 17-year-old Irvin was offered a tryout with the Newark Eagles at Hinchliffe prior to a game between the Eagles and the Homestead Grays. Irvin, from nearby Orange, performed well during the tryout and made the team, thus beginning his Hall of Fame career.

Five years later, Doby, a freshly minted graduate of Eastside High School, was also offered a tryout with the Newark Eagles. At the suggestion of a Negro Leagues umpire, Eagles owner Abe Manley agreed to give Doby a look. On that spring day at Hinchliffe Stadium, Doby walked into the stadium as an amateur athlete and left as a professional. He, too, would make the Newark Eagles roster.

We must honor Doby and Irvin

This would now be the beginning of Doby and Irvin's Hall of Fame paths, as well as their lifelong friendship. During their time in Newark, they were middle infielders and were masterful as a double-play combination. Both men would lead the Newark Eagles to win the 1946 Negro Leagues World Series.

At the major league level, they would meet as opponents in the 1954 World Series, Doby for the Cleveland Indians and Irvin for the New York Giants. New York would dominate this World Series, as the Giants swept Cleveland. In this series, Doby was on second base when Willie Mays made his infamous catch.

Both men won a Negro Leagues World Series, a major league World Series, and are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. What are the odds that two Hall of Famers try out for a Negro Leagues ballclub in the same stadium? For this unique confluence of events, perhaps it would be appropriate for the corner of Liberty and Maple streets to be renamed Larry Doby Drive and Monte Irvin Way. Larry Doby Drive to honor Doby being the first African American to hit a home run in World Series history, and Monte Irvin Way due to his professional demeanor in the game.

Brian LoPinto is co-founder of Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Larry Doby and Monte Irvin deserve street re-naming