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Sunday, July 17, 2011

Daily Kos: July 17, 1954

Daily Kos: July 17, 1954

July 17, 1954

Is a date that all baseball fans should know, but probably don't.

Let me help you.

Pitcher Don Newcombe
Catcher Roy Campanella
2nd Base Jim "Junior" Gilliam
3rd Base Jackie Robinson
Left Field Sandy Amoros

On that day, for the first time in Major League history, a baseball team took the field with a majority of its players being black. Of course it was the Brooklyn Dodgers, who had broken the color line with Jackie Robinson in 1947.

The opponents were the Milwaukee Braves, in County Stadium, Milwaukee. Oh, and that team also had a Black player of some note, rookie Right Fielder Henry Aaron.

Later that year a second Black pitcher, Joe Black, joined the team.

Jackie Robinson was Rookie of the Year in 1947, MVP in 1949 , and is in the Hall of Fame. His record is well