The arrival of Larry Doby

Less than three months after Jackie Robinson’s historic, color barrier-breaking debut in Brooklyn, outfielder Larry Doby becomes the first Black player in the American League 77 years ago today as he pinch-hits in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 6-5 loss to the White Sox before a Saturday afternoon crowd of 14,655 at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

Doby, just 23 at the time in 1947 but with four seasons of experience in the Negro Leagues, strikes out against White Sox relief pitcher Earl Harrist.

No worries. Doby does just fine over the rest of his career, compiling 1,515 hits – just three fewer than Robinson’s total – over a 13-year stay in the majors that leads him to the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Larry Doby in 1978

The first of Doby’s 1,515 hits comes the day after his debut as he goes 1-for-4 with an RBI single off Orval Groove during Cleveland’s 5-1 victory over the White Sox.

Thirty-one years after becoming the American League’s first Black player, Doby in 1978 becomes the major leagues’ second Black manager as he guides the Chicago White Sox to a 37-50 record after replacing Bob Lemon in midseason.

Once again, Doby is a runner-up in history to a Robinson – in this case, Frank Robinson, who in 1975 with Cleveland becomes the majors’ first Black manager.

While Doby only manages for half a season in the majors, Robinson ends up spending 17 seasons as a manager after his own Hall of Fame playing career.