Larry Doby, born on this day in Camden, South Carolina, would go on to become a trailblazer in Major League Baseball. On July 5, 1947, he became the first African American player in the American League, breaking the color barrier just weeks after Jackie Robinson did so in the National League.
Doby played for the Cleveland Indians, helping lead the team to a World Series championship in 1948, and was the American League RBI leader in 1954. He later became the second African American manager in MLB history.
Doby’s courage and talent paved the way for future generations of Black athletes in professional baseball.
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