Indians to unveil statue for trailblazer Larry Doby

circa 1955: Portrait of Larry Doby, the first African-American player in the American League, wearing his Cleveland Indians uniform. Doby played outfield for the Indians from 1947-1959. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND -- The Indians will unveil a statue of Hall of Famer Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League, on Saturday at Progressive Field.

Doby broke the color barrier in the AL on July 5, 1947, just months after Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Doby spent nine seasons with Cleveland and helped lead the Indians to a World Series title in 1948. He had a career .283 average with 253 homers. He led the league with 32 homers and 126 RBIs in 1954, when the Indians won 111 games.

Before joining the Indians, Doby starred for Newark in the Negro League. He retired following the 1959 season.

Doby's No. 14 was retired in 1994, 47 years after he was signed by Indians owner Bill Veeck.

A seven-time All-Star, Doby died in 2003 at the age of 79.