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1954 Bowman #84 Larry Doby (PSA Gem Mint 10) – "1 of 2": Highest Graded Example!
The illustrious PSA Card Grading Service Grading Company has currently encapsulated over 500 1954 Bowman Larry Doby subjects, with this unfathomable "Gem Mint 10" offering joined by only a single other specimen as the finest of its kind! Synonymous with this breathtaking marvel is the illustrious career of Hall of Fame centerfielder Larry Doby who quickly followed in Jackie Robinson's footsteps, making his Major League debut on July 5, 1947 in a game against the White Sox at Comiskey Park and becoming the inaugural American League and second MLB African American player. The significance of Doby's courageous MLB debut cannot be overstated for it solidified the notion that formidable African-Americans were here to stay, with Robinson's "breaking the color barrier" not a one-time anomaly.

After honorably serving in World War II, Doby would eventually find himself playing again with the Newark Eagles in 1946 and batted a sensational .360. Meanwhile, eccentric Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck (who was always looking to formulate some marketing scheme for promotional purposes - you do remember Eddie Gadel!) had his sights already set on signing Doby for the 1947 season. Considering Branch Rickey had signed Jackie Robinson to a 1946 minor-league contract with the Montreal Royals, the flamboyant Veeck was not going to be outdone. Instead of signing Doby to a minor league contract, his plan was to simply buy his contract outright from the Eagles and immediately place him in a Major League game straight from his Newark based team. On July 3, 1947, Veeck paid Newark $15,000 to snatch Doby and he made his MLB debut on the aforementioned date of July 5, 1947 at Comiskey Park.

Unfortunately, for Doby, Cleveland's current middle infield already included two All-Stars (Lou Boudreau & Joe Gordon), so Doby was ultimately moved to center field where he would embark on a storybook Hall of Fame career. Similar to his legendary playing stature is this extraordinary offering that features a virtually "dead-on" 50/50 centered image of the Cooperstown Inductee holding his cherished lumber against a classic Yankee Stadium backdrop and portraying absolutely spectacular contrast and crystal-clear clarity. Immaculate-like surfaces and blistering sharp corners are the final superlatives for a card that synonymous with Doby's eternal prestige, stands at the top of the PSA "Pop Charts" as the SOLE and undisputed "best of the rest" example!

MIN BID $500
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