A catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, Sukeforth was sent as a scout to the Negro Leagues. While checking out the Kansas City Monarchs, Sukeforth noticed one player who sat out the entire game, but obviously had potential. That was Jackie Robinson, who later became the first black player in the major leagues.
“What Clyde Sukeforth brought to baseball was a philosophy that anybody should be given a chance to play baseball if they had the ability, regardless of their color,” said Don Newcombe, another Negro League player Sukeforth recruited. Prior to his death, Sukeforth was the oldest living Dodger player. He died September 3 at age 98.