Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color barrier
On this day · 15 April 1947
When he trotted out to first base on April 15, 1947, one rookie ended six decades of segregation in America's pastime.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first Black player in modern Major League Baseball. His debut ended a color line that had kept African Americans out of the majors since the 1880s, confining them to the separate Negro Leagues.
Dodgers executive Branch Rickey had signed Robinson in 1945, calling the move his “great experiment.” He chose Robinson as much for his composure as his talent, knowing the player would face relentless abuse from opponents, fans, and even teammates without retaliating.
A lifetime is not too long to live as a kind, decent human being.
Robinson answered with his play. He won the inaugural Rookie of the Year award that season and the National League MVP in 1949. His courage opened the door for a generation of Black athletes and made him an enduring figure of the civil rights movement. Baseball now retires his number, 42, across every team, and each April 15 is marked league-wide as Jackie Robinson Day.
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