Wednesday, April 15, marked the 79th anniversary of integrated baseball in the Major Leagues. Mention the date and most baseball fans know that date in 1947 Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color line, starting at first base for the Dodgers at Ebbets Field against the visiting Boston Braves. He went 0-for-3 in what has to be the most famous hitless debut in MLB history.
Of far greater importance that day was the historic threshold that was forever crossed. While many white fans, especially in the South, objected, for Black Americans it was a day of overwhelming pride and excitement. Today it is recognized as one of the earliest events in the Civil Rights movement.
Today, MLB celebrates Robinson in several ways. First, April 15 is celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day across the majors. Every player wears Robinson’s Dodger-blue No. 42 jersey on that day. No player will ever permanently wear the number again; MLB retired the number in 1997.
It is often assumed that Robinson’s arrival in the major leagues led to an avalanche of Black players making MLB rosters. The reality was a slow and difficult integration. While the Dodgers added Robinson and pitcher Dan Bankhead in 1947, and the Cleveland Indians signed Larry Doby that same year, many teams resisted for years. The St. Louis Browns were actually the first to have two Black players, Hank Thompson and Willard Brown, on the roster at the same time in July 1947. This “trickle” rather than “avalanche” is evidenced by the fact that it took until 1959—twelve years after Robinson’s debut—for the Boston Red Sox to become the final team to integrate its roster.
By 1960, the percentage of Black players was 6% and growing. The percentage reached a peak of nearly 27% in 1975 and began a decline. It has hovered between 6% and 8% in the last decade. But gains are being made. This year marks the first time in two decades that the percentage of Black players has increased for two consecutive years, rising to 6.8%
The greatest demographic impact of Robinson’s historic day came with the arrival of Hispanic players. In 1960, the number of Black and Hispanic players was equal at 6%. But the Hispanic influence on the game is undeniable. By 2000, about one-quarter of all players were Hispanic. Today, almost a third of the players in MLB are Hispanic.
These percentages don’t mean much today, of course. There is nothing to suggest that race or country of origin play any meaningful role in who makes the big leagues. It is a meritocracy.
Meritocracy is often used as a means of attacking affirmative action or quotas in our society. This is a misunderstanding: Meritocracy is not an alternative, but the byproduct of opportunity. Baseball is evidence of that.
Major league owners, managers and scouts knew that there were an abundance of major-league quality Black players long before 1947. On this day 79 years ago, an opportunity arose and Jackie Robinson ran with it, for the benefit not only of his race and baseball but for our American society.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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