On This Day In 1947: Jackie Robinson Becomes 1st Black MLB Player In 20th Century

Robinson elevated race relations & society at large 74 years ago.
(c)Baseball Hall
  

On This Day In 1947: Jackie Roosevelt Robinson became the first Black Major League Baseball player in the 20th century by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

His contract was purchased from the Dodgers' minor league team, the Montreal Royals. Dodgers' president Branch Rickey was prompted to promote Robinson due to his high batting average of .349 and 40 stolen bases the previous season. 

While Robinson was in action for the Royals at the Dodgers' Ebbets Field, Arthur Mann, assistant to Rickey, went to the press box with a typed announcement that read: "The Dodgers today purchased the contract of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson from the Montreal Royals."

His contract was worth $5,000 and he would make his debut 5 days later.

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