CLEVELAND -- Every member of the Cleveland Indians will wear
Larry Doby's No. 14 on Aug. 10 to honor the AL's first black player, who followed Jackie Robinson in breaking baseball's color barrier.
Major League Baseball gave the Indians permission to wear Doby's
retired number, a tribute similar to the one on April 15 when the Los Angeles Dodgers and players on teams in both league's wore Robinson's No. 42 to mark the 60th anniversary of his major league debut.
The Indians' commemoration for Doby will take place during their
three-game series opener against the New York Yankees, starting off Hall of Fame/Heritage Weekend at Jacobs Field.
Larry Doby Jr. will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Each jersey worn by the Indians players and coaches will be autographed and auctioned off by Cleveland Indians Charities to benefit the Larry Doby RBI Program as well as a baseball scholarship fund in his name at Cleveland State.
Doby's number was retired by the Indians in 1994.
He became the AL's first black player in 1947, making his major
league debut on July 5, two days after he was signed by Indians owner Bill Veeck. He batted just .156 in 29 games that season, but the next year Doby hit .301 with 14 homers and 66 RBIs as Cleveland won the pennant.
In 1952, Doby, a center fielder, led the AL in home runs (32) and runs (104). Two years later, he led the league in homers (32) and RBIs (126) while helping the Indians win the World Series.
Doby was 79 when he died in 2003.