On this day in 1959, the Boston Red Rox became racially integrated

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Elijah "Pumpsie" Green, right, an infielder who was recalled from the Minneapolis farm club to join the Boston Red Sox, is given some friendly tips by Ted Williams in Chicago, July 21, 1959. Green became the first Black man ever to play for the Red Sox. When Green was assigned to the farm club at the start of the season, the Red Sox were subjected to protest from several groups charging discrimination. (AP Photo/Ed Maloney)
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On July 21, 1959, the Boston Red Sox became racially integrated. By signing infielder Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, the Red Sox became the last major league baseball team to racially integrate their roster. It was 12 years after Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.

Oddly enough, in April 1945, the Red Sox held a tryout at Fenway Park for Robinson; however, Red Sox management watching from the stands yelled racial slurs at Robinson, who joined the Brooklyn Dodgers two years later.

Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, making his first major league start for Boston Red Sox, is pictured at bat and on the field in a game with White Sox in Chicago, July 22, 1959. Green, who had been farmed out to Minneapolis, is first Black man to play for Boston. At left, he watches a foul pop-up; center, he runs to first, but was thrown out; and at right, he throws out Nelson Fox. (AP Photo/Harry L. Hall)

Pumpsie Green played in Boston for three seasons before he was traded to the New York Mets in 1963.


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