[zeprock]

I don't think Larry Doby got all the credit he deserved. In 1947, the same season Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in MLB, Doby debuted for the Cleveland Indians becoming the first black player in the American League. I read Greatness in the Shadows: Larry Doby and the Integration of the American League and am currently reading Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series that Changed Baseball both of which discuss in depth Larry Doby's story. He began his professional career at the age of 17 playing for the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, served in World War II before signing with the Cleveland Indians and joined teammate Satchel Paige as the first African-American players to win a World Championship in 1948. Doby was a seven-time All-star and led the AL in Home Runs twice and RBI once. In 1978 he became the second black manager in MLB, following Frank Robinson, when he took the helm of the Chicago White Sox. As of today, I have 92 different Beckett recognized cards of Larry. Here are nine from my collection.

<IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-1.jpg" HEIGHT=350>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-2.jpg" HEIGHT=350>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-3.jpg" HEIGHT=250>   
1957 Topps #85 Larry Doby
1958 Topps #424 Larry Doby UER/Spelled Lary on the back
1959 Topps #166 Destruction Crew/Minnie Minoso/Rocky Colavito//Larry Doby

<IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-4.jpg" HEIGHT=350>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-5.jpg" HEIGHT=575>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-6.jpg" HEIGHT=350>
1959 Topps #455 Larry Doby
1964 Exhibits #61 Larry Doby
1983 Topps 1952 Reprint #243 Larry Doby

<IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-7.jpg" HEIGHT=350>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-8.jpg" HEIGHT=350>    <IMG SRC="http://www.zeprock.com/ZC/LDo-9.jpg" HEIGHT=350>
2005 Origins Old Judge Red #122 Larry Doby RET
2013 Panini America's Pastime Barnstorming Brilliance #9 Larry Doby
2013 Topps Tribute Blue #83 Larry Doby