Larry Doby
Breaking the American League color barrier just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson, Doby endured the same isolation and hostility but with far less fanfare. The centerfielder's quiet dignity masked a devastating power stroke that made him the AL's first Black home run champion in 1952 and 1954.
Those 273 career homers represent genuine pop for the era, especially considering Doby played his home games in cavernous Cleveland Stadium. His 123 OPS+ across 13 seasons shows consistent offensive value, anchoring Cleveland's powerhouse teams that captured the 1948 World Series and won 111 games in 1954.
Eight All-Star selections tell the story of sustained excellence, but Doby's legacy extends beyond numbers. He paved the way quietly and effectively, proving that integration could work in both leagues while establishing himself as one of the game's premier center fielders.
Career · Batting
17 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | NE | 23 | 79 | 1 | 8 | .316 | .828 | 123 |
| 1943 | NE | 28 | 103 | 4 | 22 | .301 | — | — |
| 1944 | NE | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .200 | — | — |
| 1946 | NE | 59 | 234 | 7 | 52 | .363 | — | — |
| 1947 | NE | 59 | 146 | 8 | 43 | .308 | — | — |
| 1948 | CLE | 121 | 439 | 14 | 66 | .301 | — | — |
| 1949 | CLE | 147 | 547 | 24 | 85 | .280 | — | — |
| 1950 | CLE | 142 | 503 | 25 | 102 | .326 | — | — |
| 1951 | CLE | 134 | 447 | 20 | 69 | .295 | — | — |
| 1952 | CLE | 140 | 519 | 32 | 104 | .276 | — | — |
| 1953 | CLE | 149 | 513 | 29 | 102 | .263 | — | — |
| 1954 | CLE | 153 | 577 | 32 | 126 | .272 | .847 | — |
| 1955 | CLE | 131 | 491 | 26 | 75 | .291 | .874 | — |
| 1956 | CWS | 140 | 504 | 24 | 102 | .268 | .858 | — |
| 1957 | CWS | 119 | 416 | 14 | 79 | .288 | .837 | — |
| 1958 | CLE | 89 | 247 | 13 | 45 | .283 | .838 | — |
| 1959 | CWS | 39 | 113 | 0 | 13 | .230 | .591 | — |
| Career | 1674 | 5883 | 273 | 1093 | .288 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.