Jackie Robinson's Major League Debut

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, becoming the first Black player to appear in a major league game since the sport's unofficial color line was drawn in the 1880s. The Dodgers beat the Boston Braves 5–3.

Robinson had spent the 1946 season with the Dodgers' top farm club, the Montreal Royals, after Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey signed him specifically to integrate the majors. Rickey chose Robinson in part for his ability to withstand the abuse he knew was coming without retaliating, a condition Rickey asked Robinson to agree to before signing him.

Robinson went on to win the inaugural Major League Rookie of the Year award that season, was named National League MVP in 1949, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his number 42 across every team, the only number ever universally retired.