He began his baseball career in 1946 and became an All-Star third baseman with the New York Cubans and was signed by the Cleveland Indians after the 1948 season as baseball 's color line slowly fell .
He began his career in the Negro league in 1946 , becoming an All-Star third baseman with the New York Cubans in 1947 and 1948 . He was signed by the Cleveland Indians after the 1948 season as baseball 's color line slowly fell .