Jackie Robinson Broke the Color Barrier in Cuba

2 years ago
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Did you know that Jackie Robinson Broke the Color Barrier in Cuba?

When Jackie started at 1st base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15th, 1947 it represented a triumph over racism and the introduction of an immense talent and even stronger human being. Branch Rickie new that black players would lead to wins on the field and prejudice be damned winning was the most important thing.
However, long held bigoted attitudes would not die over night and even getting to the point of selecting the first transcendent player would not be easy.

The Dodgers decided to hold this audition in a land that was more progressive and had integrated their own baseball half a century earlier. This is the story of how Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier...in Cuba.

Special Thanks and further readings
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https://sabr.org/journal/article/twice-champions-the-1923-24-santa-clara-leopardos/

https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/team.php?yearID=1923.5&teamID=SC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopardos_de_Santa_Clara

https://www.amazon.ca/Last-Seasons-Havana-Revolution-Professional/dp/1496205510/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2KVDP5649EJ3K&keywords=Cesar+brioso&qid=1640523770&sprefix=cesar+brioso%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.ca/History-Cuban-Baseball-1864-2006/dp/0786493828/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C3QM7L4QLCKF&keywords=Peter+C+Bjarkman&qid=1640523800&sprefix=peter+c+bjarkman%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

https://www.graigkreindler.com

https://www.nlbm.com

In this Video
0:00 Introduction to Jackie Robinson in Cuba
1:05 Brooklyn Dodgers no strangers to Cuba
1:35 The Montreal Royals Integrated squad
2:05 Invited but still no guarantee
2:30 Considering Cubans to break the barrier
3:00 Battling Segregation and inferior lodging

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