1947 Jackie Robinson Debut vs Philadelphia Phillies

Lore & Background

Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers ended the baseball color line. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams, the first pro athlete in any sport to be so honored.

In Their Own Story

The air at Ebbets Field hung heavy with anticipation and unspoken tension. As Jackie Robinson adjusted his number 42 jersey, the roar of the crowd was a mix of curiosity and malice. From the Phillies' dugout, a chorus of racial slurs drifted across the infield, sharp and stinging in the crisp April air. Robinson kept his eyes forward, gripping his bat with white-knuckled intensity, remembering Rickey's plea: 'Don't fight back.' He took his position at first base, a solitary figure of black against the green grass, standing as a wall between the old world and the new.

Reader's Guide

Jackie Robinson Day is observed annually on April 15. On that day, all players, coaches, managers, and umpires wear Robinson's number 42. The first official league-wide Jackie Robinson Day was April 15, 2004, with festivities at all 13 ballparks where games were scheduled.

Did You Know?

• April 15 was Opening Day in 1947, Robinson's first season in the major leagues.
• Shea Stadium hosted the retirement of Robinson's number 42 jersey in 1997.
• Bob DuPuy, MLB president and COO, described Jackie Robinson Day as significant 'not only for baseball, but for our country in general.'