Willard Brown

Hank Thompson and right fielder Willard “Home Run” Brown play for the St. Louis Browns

Firsts

On July 20, 1947, two black players appear in a major league lineup for the first time. Second baseman Hank Thompson and right fielder Willard “Home Run” Brown play for the St. Louis Browns in a doubleheader. The Browns win both games, 4-3 and 7-6, over the Boston Red Sox.
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