Manufacturer: Leaf (Chicago Leaf Gum Company)
Set: 1948 Leaf Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Larry Doby
Position/Team: Outfield for Indians
Card #: 138
Card Size: 2-3/8” x 2-7/8”
Card Value Snapshot: Raw/Ungraded: $1,500 | Grade 7: $17,200
⬇️ See More Pricing Data Below
On July 5, 1947—just 81 days after Jackie Robinson integrated the National League—Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians, breaking the American League color barrier. Facing the exact same hostile environments, systemic isolation, and intense pressure as Robinson, Doby handled his path with immense grace, quiet resilience, and elite, Hall of Fame-caliber play. He went on to become a seven-time All-Star, a two-time AL home run king, and a pioneering champion who proved to be the ultimate winner on every stage.
Before making history in the American League, Doby was already a superstar in the Negro Leagues. He served as the dynamic shortstop for the legendary Newark Eagles, leading them alongside Monte Irvin to a Negro World Series Championship in 1946.
The Direct Jump: Unlike Jackie Robinson, who spent a season in the minor leagues with Montreal, Doby jumped directly from the Newark Eagles to the active Cleveland roster in the middle of the 1947 season.
The 1948 Championship Spark: Originally an infielder, Doby converted to center field in 1948 and blossomed into an elite force. He batted .301 during the regular season, helping guide Cleveland to the pennant.
The Deciding Blow: In the 1948 World Series against the Boston Braves, Doby hit a blistering .318. In Game 4, he belted a legendary, game-winning solo home run off Johnny Sain, making him the first African American player to hit a home run in World Series history. A photograph of Doby and white teammate Steve Gromek joyfully hugging after the game became a landmark, healing image in the early civil rights era.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
Tracking the current market value for the 1948 Leaf Larry Doby Card #138. Below, find updated pricing data for ungraded (raw) copies, as well as verified PSA graded sales trends collected from secondary marketplaces.
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Raw/Ungraded: $1,500
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Grade 1: -
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Grade 2: -
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Grade 3: $4,300
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Grade 4: $9,200
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Grade 5: $6,600
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Grade 6: $11,700
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Grade 7: $17,200
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Grade 8: $18,000
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Grade 9: -
Data Updated: July 2026
➡️ See All 1948 Leaf Rookie Card Prices
Pricing data includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information. (Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
DISCLAIMER: This data is not intended as financial advice and should not be used as such. Please do your own research before making any investment or selling/buying decisions.
Did You Know? Doby’s history-making didn’t stop when he hung up his spikes. Following his retirement, he stayed in the game as a coach. On June 30, 1978, the Chicago White Sox hired him as their manager. In doing so, Doby became the second African American manager in Major League Baseball history, following only Frank Robinson.
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