“D” is for Doby, Lawrence Edward (1923-2003)

“D” is for Doby, Lawrence Edward (1923-2003). Baseball player. Doby was the first African American to play baseball in the American League and the second African American to manage a major-league team. After four seasons with the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians in July 1947. Although Doby started as an infielder, the Indians moved him to center field to take advantage of his speed. In his thirteen-year career he batted .283, with 253 home runs, and 969 runs batted in. He was a seven-times All-Star. After retiring Doby worked as a scout and hitting coach for several teams. For a portion of the 1978 season, he was the manager of the Chicago White Sox. Lawrence Edward Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.