#Spotlight – This week as part of Black History Month, we introduce you to Larry Doby, who will forever be known as the second man to break the color barrier behind Jackie Robinson.
He was however he first black player in the American League.
Like Buzz Aldrin (the second man on the moon), Doby will forever have a place in history, but that does not diminish what would become his own Hall of Fame career.
Doby made his major-league debut for the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947, he broke the league’s color barrier less than three months after Jackie Robinson.
Doby would play for the Indians for 13 seasons, and becoming a 7 time All-Star.
Larry Doby lettered 3 sports while attending Paterson Eastside High School in New Jersey. While still in High School, Doby began playing second base under the assumed name of Larry Walker in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles.
Doby was honorably discharged from the military in January of 1946, he would rejoin the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues. The Eagles would win the Negro Leagues World Series behind Larry Doby.
In 1954 Doby led the American League in home runs (32) and runs batted in (126).
In 1978, Larry Doby became the second (again) black manager, when he led the Chicago White Sox, accumulating a record of 37-50.
In 1998, Doby was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
#HistoryInYourSize
