The Phillies players, inspired by their Alabama-born racist skipper Ben Chapman, repeatedly shout racial epitaphs, throw beanballs, and intentionally spike Brooklyn’s rookie first baseman, the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. The incident is so severe that Philadelphia’s that infielder Jeep Handley will later publicly apologize, and baseball commissioner Happy Chandler will chastise team’s manager for his bigoted leadership.

The Phillies players, inspired by their Alabama-born racist skipper Ben Chapman, repeatedly shout racial epitaphs, throw beanballs, and intentionally spike Brooklyn’s rookie first baseman, the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. The incident is so severe that Philadelphia’s that infielder Jeep Handley will later publicly apologize, and baseball commissioner Happy Chandler will chastise team’s manager for his bigoted leadership.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Phillies players, inspired by their Alabama-born racist skipper Ben Chapman, repeatedly shout racial epitaphs, throw beanballs, and intentionally spike Brooklyn’s rookie first baseman, the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. The incident is so severe that Philadelphia’s that infielder Jeep Handley will later publicly apologize, and baseball commissioner Happy Chandler will chastise team’s manager for his bigoted leadership.

Jackie Robinson makes a historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers

Jackie Robinson makes a historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers

ByTom

1947 – 28-year-old Jackie Robinson makes a historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. Robinson goes 0 for 3 in his debut, but scores the deciding run in a 5 – 3 victory over the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. He handles 11 chances at first base, a new position for him. Coach Clyde Sukeforth, interim manager and the man credited with first scouting Robinson, guides the Dodgers to two victories before stepping down. Robinson is the first black player to appear in the majors since 1884.

Dodgers purchase Robby
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Dodgers purchase Robby

ByThis Day in Baseball

(NY Daily News, Friday, April 11, 1947; written by Hy Turkin) “Jackie Robinson is a Dodger today. Blazing a revolutionary front by admitting the first black player in modern major league history, Dodger president Branch Rickey yesterday purchased Jackie’s contract from his Montreal farm club. .. Since the Dodgers’ main weakness is at first base,…

Jackie Robinson Debuts for the Brooklyn Dodgers
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Jackie Robinson Debuts for the Brooklyn Dodgers

ByThis Day in Baseball

On April 10, 1947, in one of the most significant moments in baseball history, Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player of the 20th century to sign a major league contract. Robinson signs a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Dodgers, whose general manager, Branch Rickey, had personally recruited Robinson from the Negro Leagues…

Jackie Robinson in Cuba 1947

Jackie Robinson in Cuba 1947

ByTom

    Jackie Robinson looks over a roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Havana, Cuba, where he was training with the Montreal Royals, a Dodgers farm club, Feb. 28, 1947. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links   [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to Present Day” button_text=”Join us!” description=” This Day…

tom yawkey

The owners hold a secret meeting lead by Tom Yawkey to defend color barrier

ByBaseball

1946 – At the Owners’ Meeting, a committee formed to study integration, which includes Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, delivers its secretive report defending the covert color barrierwhich exists in professional baseball. The absurd reasons given why blacks shouldn’t be allowed to play in the big leagues include an absence of skills due to inferior training and lack of fundamentals as well as the need to respect existing Negro League contracts, but another lesser known motivation may have been profit, as revealed later in the report: “The Negro leagues rent their parks in many cities from clubs in Organized Baseball (and) Club owners in the major leagues are reluctant to give up revenues amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year” and the fear white fans would be driven away if black players attracted more minorities to the ballpark.

Jackie Robinson finds himself a seat on Montreal’s bench as he joins the Royals for the first time in an exhibition game against their major league affiliate, the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Jackie Robinson finds himself a seat on Montreal’s bench as he joins the Royals for the first time in an exhibition game against their major league affiliate, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

ByThis Day in Baseball

March 17, 1946 Jackie Robinson finds himself a seat on Montreal’s bench as he joins the Royals for the first time in an exhibition game against their major league affiliate, the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game is played before a packed crowd of 3,100 in Daytona Beach, marking the first appearance of an integrated team in…