The Beginning Of The End...

On this date in 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play a Major League baseball game. Robinson started at first base and went hitless, but did score the winning run. He also would go to win “Rookie of the Year” honors in his first major league season.

However, this historic day was also the beginning of the end of black baseball in America. The Negro Leagues that once flourished in black communities across the country, started getting robbed of it best talent and eventually the leagues could not keep its fan base because of the lack of stars and good teams. The number of black players in the Majors peeked in the 80's but has been on a decline since the mid 90's and there are no signs that things are gonna get any better soon.