Larry Doby

Larry Doby was a pioneer whose courage and grace often went unheralded, yet his impact was just as profound as Jackie Robinson’s. On July 5, 1947, just eleven weeks after Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League, Doby became the first Black player in the American League when he took the field for the Cleveland Indians. Unlike Robinson, who had a spring training and a minor league season to prepare, Doby was brought directly to the majors with no warning or time to acclimate. He endured the same racism, isolation, and hostility but without the national attention or support system. Still, he persevered with dignity.

Doby became a seven-time All-Star and helped lead the Indians to a World Series title in 1948, hitting .318 in the Fall Classic. He was the first Black player to hit a home run in a World Series and finished his career with 253 homers and a .283 average. Like Robinson, Doby was a veteran of the Negro Leagues and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, fighting for freedoms he was still denied at home. Off the field, Doby was quiet but resolute, committed to proving that African American players not only belonged but could lead teams to glory.

Doby and Robinson developed mutual respect, occasionally speaking about the unique burdens they carried on opposite sides of the league. In 1978, Doby became the second Black manager in MLB history, following Frank Robinson. Though he was often overshadowed during his life, recent decades have brought a fuller recognition of his bravery and contributions. In 1998, he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he is now honored both for his hitting ability and his trailblazing entrance into the American League.