Blacks and whites had played together for short periods in the late eighteen hundreds in different baseball organizations. But no black players had been admitted to the Major League Baseball that exists today.
His uniform number, forty-two, was retired as an honor on the fiftieth anniversary. Since then, the only players who could wear that number were those already wearing it.
Jackie Robinson was called up by the Dodgers on April fifteenth, nineteen forty-seven. At that time the team played in Brooklyn, New York.
But a special honor is planned this Sunday for the sixtieth anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. At least one player from every major league team will wear the number forty-two. That includes every member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The all-time high for minorities in the major leagues was forty-two percent ten years ago.
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Jackie Robinson wanted to see African-Americans not just playing baseball but also managing teams. Over the years, the numbers of black managers increased. But the share of black players has decreased.
Major League Baseball has since invited players from all thirty teams to wear Jackie Robinson's number on April fifteenth. But some feel they are not worthy of it. Others say too many people wearing the number takes away from the meaning.
Jackie Robinson faced abuse and loneliness. There were death threats. Pitchers threw at his head.
Last year almost thirty percent of players were Latino. About two percent were Asian. In all, more than forty percent of professional baseball players were nonwhite.
Sunday will mark an important anniversary in American society. Sixty years ago, Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play in Major League Baseball.
Almost one-third of all players last season were from other countries. Many players come from the Dominican Republic.
