L - R, Roy Campanella (1921 - 1993), Catcher, Don Newcombe (1926 - 2019), Pitcher, Larry Doby (1923 - 2003) Centerfielder (Cleveland Indians) and Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) Second Baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the National League team before the Major League Baseball All Star Game on 10th July 1951 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, United States. (Photo by Al Gretz/Keystone View Company/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Major League Baseball will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, 2026.
The great Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947.
National League Brooklyn Dodgers franchise owner, Wesley Branch Rickey had the courage and conviction to sign Robinson.
Breaking the color barrier in baseball was a major accomplishment for the very gifted, very athletic, very personable, and very courageous Robinson.
While Robinson was the first to break MLB’s color barrier, left-handed slugger Larry Doby became the first Black MLB player in the American League on July 5, 1947.
Three months after Robinson’s debut, Doby joined the Cleveland Indians.
More about Doby later.
circa 1945: A portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers' infielder Jackie Robinson in uniform. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Getty Images
As baseballreferece.com states, Robinson was 28-years old when he played his first game for Brooklyn on April 15, 1947.
Playing against the Boston Braves, Robinson went 0-3, but scored a run. He had a sacrifice in the game. He played first base, and hit second in the lineup.
Robinson dealt with, and overcame bigotry, racism, and outright hatred as he kept his eye on the prize of becoming a great Hall of Fame caliber player.
The right-handed hitting Robinson, who played second, third and first for the Dodgers from 1947-1956, entered the MLB Hall of Fame July 23, 1962.
Robinson was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1947. He was a six-time All Star, from 1949-1956.
Robinson’s last game was September 30, 1956, when he was 37-years-old.
Robinson was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1949, the same year he won the National League Batting Title, when he hit .342, with 16 home runs, 124 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases.
In parts of 11 big league seasons, Robinson played 1,416 games.
MLB celebrates Robinson every year, with every player on every MLB club wearing the NO.42, which was Robinson’s uniform number.
The tribute is tremendous, and well deserved.
UNDATED: Brooklyn Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson (r) with Larry Doby (l) and Satchel Paige of the Cleveland Indians. (photo by Sporting News via Getty Images)
The Sporting News
While the tribute for Robinson is of critical importance to baseball, it seems very sad to this writer that there is no special commemoration for Larry Doby.
Since a mere few months separated Robinson and Doby’s arrival to the major leagues, it seems only right to commemorate Doby breaking the color barrier in the American League.
baseballreference.com shares that Doby played 10 years with Cleveland, three years with the Chicago White Sox, and one year with the Detroit Tigers.
He hit 263 big league homers.
Doby was an All Star eight times. He entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
In fact, the Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Indians, do celebrate the arrival of Doby to their team, but not in the same manner as Robinson is celebrated.
Major League Baseball has refused a request by Cleveland to wear the NO. 14, Doby’s uniform number, on the anniversary of his arrival in Cleveland.
wkyc.com shared this about Cleveland’s request to wear NO. 14:
“On the 76th anniversary of Doby breaking the color barrier in the American League, Cleveland Guardians manager, Terry Francona felt he need to do something special to honor Doby.
MLB has repeatedly denied the uniform request, with no signs of things changing anytime soon.”
“It hurst me a little bit, Francona said of the league’s lack of cooperation. It’s just hard to fathom.”
Francona now manages the Cincinnati Reds.
It should be noted that Major League Baseball also celebrates the lives and careers of Lou Gehrig, and Roberto Clemente, in addition to Jackie Robinson.
President of the Cleveland Indians, Bill Veeck, left, gives his newest player, Larry Doby, a big smile at Comisky park in Chicago, July 5, 1947 after Doby had finished signing a contract with the Indians. Doby is the first black person in the American Baseball League. (AP Photo)
Copyright 1947 AP. All rights reserved.
But not Larry Doby.
For this old scout, Larry Doby will always be a hero.
A Doby uniform jersey has a proud place hanging on a wall in this writer’s office.
Yes, Jackie Robinson was, and is ,very special.
Yes, Lou Gehrig, and Roberto Clemente were, and are, very special.
But Larry Doby was, and still is, very special.
He just doesn’t have a day named in his honor by Major League Baseball,.
And that’s a real shame.
Update: Today, April 15, 2026 is Jackie Robinson Day. Every Major League Baseball player will be wearing No. 42, to honor Jackie Robinson. That was his uniform number.
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