Cleveland’s Hall of Famer Larry Doby gets US stamp

CLEVELAND (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Hall of Famer Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians with a commemorative stamp.

The stamp issued Saturday honors the first black person to play in the American League. Doby began professional ball with the Indians in 1947. He was a seven-time All-Star.

The post office also marked the issuance of the stamp with a dedication ceremony in Cleveland in conjunction with the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. That gave collectors a chance to get a first day of issue postmark.

The city of Cleveland has renamed a street alongside Progressive Field in Doby’s honor.

Doby, who also played for the White Sox and Tigers, died in 2003 in Montclair, N.J.

Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player in the National League.