Larry Doby

Eleven weeks later, Larry Doby became the first black player in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians on July 5. He only played in 29 games that year, but he soon became a huge part of the Indians’ offense. In 1954, he placed second in the American League MVP voting, behind the New York Yankees’ Yogi Berra by only twenty points.
The Indians finished the year at 80-74, which was good enough for fourth place in the American League. While this was no spectacular season, it was a drastic turnaround from the pervious year’s 68-86 sixth place finish.
Four Indians players were on the American League All-Star team: pitcher Bob Feller, catcher Jim Hegan, second baseman Joe Gordon, and shortstop/manager Lou Boudreau. Boudreau placed third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting, and Feller and Gordon were in the top ten.

Mel Harder

1947 was the last season in baseball for Indians pitching great Mel Harder, who won 223 games in 20 years, playing his whole career with the Indians. After his playing days were over, he spent 16 years as the team’s pitching coach, and even managed a few games. His total of 36 years with the Indians is the longest that anyone has worn a Cleveland uniform. This year was also the last of Al Lopez’s playing career. He later came back to manage the Indians from 1951-1956.
In Cleveland, the lakefront airport started operating adjacent to Cleveland Municipal Stadium, where the Indians and Browns played. In December, WEWS of Cleveland was the first television station in Ohio to start broadcasting.

source for statistics: baseball-reference.com