Larry Doby

Larry Doby holds a special place in Cleveland and Major League Baseball history as the first African-American ballplayer in the American League. He combined talent, skill, and athleticism with courage, bravery, and heart, becoming a trailblazer whose impact resonated across generations. An All-Star for seven consecutive seasons, he ranked among the franchise leaders in home runs, runs, runs batted in, and walks. In 1948, he hit a decisive home run in game 4 of the World Series. In 1952, he led baseball in slugging percentage and was the American League home run and run leader. In 1954, he led the American League in home runs and runs batted in, finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting, and helped the Indians reach the World Series. He served in the Navy during World War II and became a member of both the Indians Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His number 14 was the fifth retired by the franchise.

Cleveland, Ohio · United States