[Lefty Noob]

The Cleveland Indians are asking Major League Baseball for permission to honor Larry Doby.

Indians pitching Doby tribute to MLB
Jackie Robinson's 42 isn't the only number with special meaning to the Cleveland Indians.

Less than three months after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby made his debut for the Indians, becoming the AL's first black player.

Doby played 10 seasons for Cleveland, and the Hall of Famer's No. 14 was retired by the team on July 3, 1994 -- 47 years after he was signed by owner Bill Veeck.

Now that baseball has saluted Robinson's 60th anniversary, the Indians have asked Major League Baseball for permission to have their players wear Doby's No. 14 on July 5 in Detroit to commemorate the six decades since he bravely battled prejudice.

Team spokesman Bart Swain said while the club awaits word from MLB, it is planning to honor Doby during the team's Hall of Fame weekend at Jacobs Field when the New York Yankees are in town Aug. 10-12.

Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia, outfielder Grady Sizemore and second baseman Josh Barfield all wore Robinson's No. 42 in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Sabathia would love a chance to take part in a similar tribute to Doby, a six-time All-Star who died in 2003.

"I don't think a lot of people know who Larry Doby is," Sabathia said. "I watched a documentary on him about a month ago and found out who he was. Hopefully the league will let us do it because he's someone who needs to be honored."

They all want to wear his jersey, just like a lot of guys did on Jackie Robinson Day. Will it happen?

[azrael492]

I think they will let them do it, but I don't think there will be as many people involved from other teams. CC summed it up when he said he had to watch a documentary to see who he was. I think that will be all over.