On This Day in Baseball History April 15, 1947: Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson becomes the first black player since Moses Fleetwood Walker in the 1884 to play in MLB when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves. In doing so, Baseball's color barrier was broken. Every year, April 15 is recognized as Jackie Robinson day throughout the Major Leagues with every player wearing the number 42 on their backs. The uniform number 42 is retired league-wide. Painting of Jackie Robinson by Higgins Bond. #JackieRobsinson #JackRooseveltRobinson #BrooklynDodgers #IntegrationofBaseball #BranchRickey #MosesFleetwoodWalker #AfricanAmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanStudies #BlackHistory #BlackStudies #OnThisDayinBaseballHistory #ThisDayinBaseballHistory #BaseballHistory #HistoriaDelBeisbol #Baseball #Beisbol #BaseballSisco