Larry Doby cards

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Browns1981

Why didn't Larry Doby have cards in the 1951, 53, or 55 Topps sets?

Doby is in the 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars set. Granted, not a very popular or well-known set, but there it is...

I vaguely recall reading an article by long-time Cleveland sportswriter Hal Lebowitz back in the '80's that claimed Bill Veeck wanted to bring Larry up to the Indians when the team went north from spring training in '47. But, Veeck may have deferred to Branch Rickey's desire to have the public spotlight on Robinson, since he was to play in a much larger market. So, the nonsensical argument about second place versus first place seems kind of pointless.

[ALR-bishop]

Maybe not well known but from my standpoint the best of the 5 Toops 1951 sets

[mrmopar]

There is that Dodgers vs Indians factor too. Wouldn't explain it all, but partially.

[Tere1071]

Originally Posted by Volod

Doby is in the 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars set. Granted, not a very popular or well-known set, but there it is...

I vaguely recall reading an article by long-time Cleveland sportswriter Hal Lebowitz back in the '80's that claimed Bill Veeck wanted to bring Larry up to the Indians when the team went north from spring training in '47. But, Veeck may have deferred to Branch Rickey's desire to have the public spotlight on Robinson, since he was to play in a much larger market. So, the nonsensical argument about second place versus first place seems kind of pointless.

Yes, but that set is very hard to find particularly with the backing intact. That Doby would be quite a find for a collector of his cards.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Volod

I vaguely recall reading an article by long-time Cleveland sportswriter Hal Lebowitz back in the '80's that claimed Bill Veeck wanted to bring Larry up to the Indians when the team went north from spring training in '47. But, Veeck may have deferred to Branch Rickey's desire to have the public spotlight on Robinson, since he was to play in a much larger market. So, the nonsensical argument about second place versus first place seems kind of pointless.

But there are the movies and tv shows, the retirement of #42 across the majors, etc. Ask a non-fan of baseball to name a player and you are probably going to hear Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, maybe Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente or Lou Gehrig. JR has transcended the game itself. Doby, not.

Need another Doby card...

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

JR has transcended the game itself. Doby, not.

But I do believe that if Doby would have been first, and Jackie a few months behind him, that we would be talking about Doby and Jackie would be the footnote. Nothing against Jackie, just that 'first' matters. 'Second', not so much.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

But I do believe that if Doby would have been first, and Jackie a few months behind him, that we would be talking about Doby and Jackie would be the footnote. Nothing against Jackie, just that 'first' matters. 'Second', not so much.

Ya know, Tom, I have to disagree. My speculative opinion is that, even if Veeck had been allowed to bring Doby up at the same time as Rickey elevated Robinson - or even if Doby had debuted with the Indians a day before Jackie had with the Dodgers, the national dominance of New York marketing would have put Larry on page two of the sports section as a one graph note from the hinterland, while page one would have been splashed with pics and stories of Jackie's much more significant appearance in New York. And, the relative importance of each player's breakthrough would have remained in Robinson's favor because of the market he enjoyed. I think the greatly unappreciated value of Doby's cards today compared to Robinson's, given their similar career stats, informs that possibility.