Less than three months after Robinson's major league debut, Larry Doby became the first African American to play in the American League.  Larry Doby appeared as a seventh-inning pinch hitter for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox  only three hours after signing his contract on July 5, 1947. Doby, like Robinson, was a superb all-around athlete. Born in Camden, South Carolina, he moved at age eight with his mother to Paterson, New Jersey.  He starred in four sports at East Side High School and briefly attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the Navy.

Larry Doby returned to play for the Negro League Newark Eagles after World War II ended.  Doby was leading the Negro National League with a batting average of .458 and 13 home runs when Cleveland owner Bill Veeck called Doby to the Indians.

The 1947 season was difficult for Larry Doby.  He did not hit well, and it soon became clear that he was not best-suited as an infielder.  He played little throughout most of his first season in the majors.  He batted only 30 times, striking out 11 times for a poor .156 average.

The 1948 season was different altogether.  The quiet Doby was determined to improve upon his disappointing first season.  After hitting .356 in spring training, Doby took the field on opening day as the Indians starting right fielder.  Doby batted an impressive .301 with 14 home runs and 65 runs batted in during the regular season to help the Indians win the American League pennant.  In the World Series, Doby paced the Indians with .318 average as the Indians took the Series in six games over the Boston Braves.  Larry Doby became the first African American to play on a World Series Champion team.

Doby played 13 seasons in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers, hitting a career average of .283 with 253 home runs.  He served a short stint as manager of the White Sox in 1978 becoming only the second African American manager in the major leagues.  He has not yet been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He is the only black major leaguer from 1947 still living.

"Just remember that they play with a little white ball and a stick of wood up here just like they did in your league."  -  Cleveland owner Bill Veeck to Larry Doby before his first major league game.