On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Striking out as a pinch hitter in an Indians 6 – 5 loss to the White Sox, against Chicago hurler Earl Harrist. 22-year old Larry Doby becomes the first black to appear in the American League. The former Newark Eagles standout will play in the…
July 3, 1947, Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck purchases the contract of outfielder Larry Doby from the Newark Eagles of the Negro American League. Doby will play in his first game two days later, becoming the first African-American player in American League history.
In anticipation of the signing of the team’s first black players, Bill Veeck, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, sets up a spring training camp there for the Cleveland Indians. Arizona is chosen because of its relatively tolerant racial climate. During the season, Veeck will sign the American League’s first black player, Larry Doby, who will train at the camp. The New York Giants also set up camp in Arizona, while the Brooklyn Dodgers move their training camp from Florida to Havana, Cuba.
On June 21, 1946, future Hall of Famer Bill Veeck purchases the Cleveland Indians. Veeck, the head of a group of new owners, will make headlines in 1947, when he signs Larry Doby as the first African-American player in the history of the American League.
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