. Dr. Robert E. Wall, left,  academic vice president of Fairfield University, confers an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Lawrence E. Doby, center, the first black baseball player to compete in the American League, Sunday, May 18, 1997 during Fairfield University\'s 47th commencement exercises in Fairfield, Conn. Reverend Alyoysius P. Kelley, president of the university, looks on at right. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey).