Breaking Barriers

Posted April 14, 2011, 10:50 am


On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson finally breaks baseball's color barrier when he suits up for the Brooklyn Dodgers and becomes the first African-American to play in a major league game. Despite racism from teammates, players and fans across the league, Robinson plays a stellar season. In 151 games, he hit .297, stole more bases than anyone else in the National League and was awarded the first-ever Rookie of the Year title.

He paved the way for a generation of players. Sixty years later, Major League Baseball paid tribute to those who played before Robinson's time by holding a mock draft of Negro League greats. Click here to watch our story Righting a Wrong.

© 2006-2012. Growing Bolder Media Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.