WASHINGTON, D.C. - A former Cleveland Indians baseball player was honored for his contributions to both baseball and the American Civil Rights Movement.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) honored Larry Doby with the Congressional Gold Medal Wednesday.

Doby joined the Cleveland Indians in 1947, becoming the first African-American to play in the American League.

"When we talk about integrating baseball, we hear about Jackie Robinson, and too often, the story stops there. We neglect the men who came soon after. Larry Doby is a key part of this story – a WWII veteran, the first Black player in the American league, the second Black manager in the majors, a civil rights pioneer. His bravery and determination changed baseball," Brown said.

Doby made seven all-star teams during his time in Cleveland and was a key member of the 1948 World Series team. He played for the Tribe until 1955 when he joined the Chicago White Sox for two seasons. He returned to Cleveland in 1958 for one season before playing a year in Detroit and one more for the White Sox.

During his 13-year career, Doby played 1,553 games, batting .283 with 253 home runs and 970 runs batted in.

He was also the first Black player to hit a home run in a World Series game.

Following his playing career, Doby became the second African-American manager in Major League history when the Chicago White Sox hired him in 1978.

After retiring from baseball, he was the director of communications for the NBA's New Jersey Nets from 1980 to 1989.

Doby passed away in 2003.