Breaking a Barrier, One Team at a Time
After Jackie Robinson broke major-league baseball's color barrier by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, other black players hoped to follow. Other teams, as well. But some teams, including the Phillies, remained reluctant to integrate for a decade or more.
Here is a list of the first black players on teams that existed when Robinson debuted and the date on which the franchises followed suit:
Player Team League Date
Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers National April 15, 1947
Larry Doby Cleveland Indians American July 5, 1947
Hank Thompson St. Louis Browns American July 17, 1947
Monte Irvin New York Giants National July 8, 1949
Hank Thompson New York Giants National July 8, 1949
Sam Jethroe Boston Braves National April 18, 1950
Minnie Minoso Chicago White Sox American May 5, 1951
Bob Trice Philadelphia Athletics American Sept. 13, 1953
Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs National Sept. 17, 1953
Player Team League Date
Curt Roberts Pittsburgh Pirates National April 13, 1954
Tom Alston St. Louis Cardinals National April 13, 1954
Nino Escalera Cincinnati Reds National April 17, 1954
Chuck Harmon Cincinnati Reds National April 17, 1954
Carlos Paula Washington Senators American Sept. 6, 1954
Elston Howard New York Yankees American April 14, 1955
John Kennedy Philadelphia Phillies National April 22, 1957
Ozzie Virgil Sr. Detroit Tigers American June 6, 1958
Pumpsie Green Boston Red Sox American July 21, 1959
