By Manuel Polanco
Baseball has had a myriad of iconic Black players that paved the way, not only through their contributions to the sport, but through their activism as well, shaping the future of Black baseball players to come.
On April 15, baseball fans everywhere will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. Ever since 2009, this day has been cemented in baseball history. All teams will don the iconic “42” on their jersey to honor and remember the life and legacy of baseball icon and Hall of Fame player Jackie Robinson.
Robinson was not just a Hall of Fame athlete, but also a civil rights advocate who sought to create change and empower the Black community. By the 1940s, baseball had already been segregated for many years, according to the Library of Congress. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his MLB debut when he played for the Dodgers. His action broke the infamous color barrier, which had barred many Black and Afro-Latino players from playing in major leagues.
Prior to this, many Black players had to play in a Black-only baseball league, dubbed the “Negro League.” Robinson played here before making his debut, and many of his teammates would become future MLB Hall of Famers, including Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.
When Robinson made his debut, he was met with overwhelmingly racist remarks from hecklers and other baseball players. Robinson’s career came to an end after 10 years, at 37 years old. He ended his career with several accolades, including an MVP title, Rookie of the Year, seven-time all-star, batting title winner, and World Series champion.
In Robinson’s final appearance, he threw the first pitch of the 1972 World Series. According to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, he ended by stating, “I’m going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day, and see a Black face managing in baseball.” Robinson’s life and career have since been portrayed in the media, notably in the 2013 film, “42”, a nod to the athlete’s jersey number.
Aaron was another notable baseball athlete who, like Robinson, played in the Negro League before his debut. His career spanned 23 years, and he was often dubbed “Hammerin’ Hank.” He played for the Braves for the majority of his career and became an icon and franchise legend in Atlanta.
A notable moment in his career occurred on April 8, 1974, during the fourth-inning, against the Dodgers. Launching a ball over the left field wall, Aaron had hit home run number 715 of his career and had passed Babe Ruth’s record of 714, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. For the first time in baseball history, a Black man etched himself in baseball immortality with a home run record that was close to untouchable for 33 years, before that too was broken by another Black baseball player, Barry Bonds.
The 25-time all-star was a pioneer on and off the field. Aaron was a chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for much of his career, and his civil rights activism helped create many opportunities for many Black athletes to work in front offices in the sport. He founded the “Chasing the Dream Foundation,” which helped fund programs catered to the underfunded youth of America, allowing them to pursue their dreams and develop their talents and efforts.
Baseball has seen its fair share of iconic Black baseball legends, but as of 2024, only 6% of all baseball players are Black, according to the official MLB statistics. Representation in the MLB is slowly improving, but much work remains. The MLB has developed programs such as the DREAM Series, the MLB Tour, the Breakthrough Series, and the Hank Aaron Invitational in an effort to empower aspiring Black athletes, according to their website.
“Our hope and our plan is to get those players that are in those programs in front of the right people […]” Tony Reagins, MLB’s Chief Baseball Development Officer, stated. “Because from what I’ve seen, some of these players that we are engaged with are as talented as a lot of the players in the country. It’s just that they don’t have the opportunities to be seen and to be scouted in certain situations. We’ve made an effort to make sure that happens.”
Showcasing those who paved the way is crucial to these developments.