on this day

on this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first player to break the color barrier (and first in 60 years), joining the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field.  he had spent the previous season on the Dodgers farm team the Montreal Royals.  Moses Fleetwood Walker was the last black player prior to Robinson, spending a season with the Toledo Blues Stockings in 1884.