Doby deal ends short Orioles career for future Hall of Famer

By 1948, Doby – who many believed would be the first African-American player in the big leagues – was the Indians starting center fielder. He hit .301 to help lead Cleveland to the World Series title that year, then settled in as one of the game’s most consistent power hitters.

From 1949-56, Doby was named to seven All-Star Games, won two AL home run titles and was the league’s runner-up in the 1954 Most Valuable Player voting for a Cleveland team that won a AL-record 111 games.

The Indians traded Doby to the White Sox following the 1955 season in a deal for Jim Busby and Chico Carrasquel – a deal which opened the Chicago shortstop position for future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio.

After two seasons in Chicago, the White Sox dealt Doby to the Orioles on Dec. 3, 1957, in a seven-player trade that sent former AL batting champion Billy Goodman and Tito Francona to the White Sox.

The principle players in the deal were Doby and Woodling – each veteran outfielders who still swung potent bats. Doby, however, was sidelined by injuries for much of 1958, hitting .283 with 13 homers and 45 RBI in 89 games.

On March 21, 1959, the Indians traded Doby to the Tigers in a one-for-one deal for Francona, who took the AL by storm that year by hitting .363. Doby, however, was limited to 39 games with the Tigers and White Sox, bringing an end to his playing career.

Williams – who came up through the Dodgers system in the early 1950s – became a super-sub and played seven more seasons after the Doby trade for the Orioles, Athletics and Red Sox. He retired as a player after the 1964 season, managed the Red Sox’s Triple-A team in 1965 and 1966, then led Boston to the AL pennant as the rookie manager of the Impossible Dream Red Sox of 1967 – the start of a 21-year managerial career that resulted in four pennants, two World Series victories and 1,571 wins.