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Today in History: Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color barrier in debut

4/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history by becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His debut ended decades of racial segregation in professional baseball, which had confined Black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s, marking a significant milestone in American sports and civil rights.

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Story summary

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history by becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His debut ended decades of racial segregation in professional baseball, which had confined Black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s, marking a significant milestone in American sports and civil rights.