Introduction
On April 15, 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers opened their season against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. Starting at first base was a 28-year old African American by the name of Jack Roosevelt Robinson. With the game's first pitch, Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play in the modern major leagues, breaking the color barrier that had surrounded baseball for over a half century and symbolizing the racial integration of American society.
Robinson's character, courage, and talent have secured his place in history. Less known are Larry Doby, Henry Thompson, Willard Brown and Dan Bankhead, the four other African American men who played in the major leagues in 1947. Like Jackie Robinson, these men used their talent and determination to overcome decades of racial discrimination in the sport that has stood as “America's pastime.” The LA84 Foundation honors the five men who first crossed the color barrier of major league baseball.
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