The Role Of The Color Barrier In Baseball

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Throughout the first half of the 20th century baseball became America’s sport of choice. Despite the interruption of WWII baseball continued to be one of the most popular sports in the country. The late 1940s saw the end of the “Color Barrier.” The last African American to play in the major leagues played in 1880. Six days before the start of the 1947 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers called Jackie Robinson, a star from the all black “Negro” league, up to the major leagues. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field. This change allowed America’s pastime to better reflect the country’s ethnic makeup during the 1950s.
All time great Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951. This ended a storied career. Robinson called it quits in