Major League Baseball and the color barrier question

[Randle Pat McMurphy]

Most know Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947 with his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Came across this piece of lesser know baseball history last week.


How many years passed before the 1st starting lineup for any MLB team was comprised of all Black and/or Latin American players? Looking for the 1st time 9 non white players took the field to make up their team's starting lineup.


Looking for the following:

1. the year it happened?

2. the team which broke the barrier?


and for those looking for a sure brain teaser:

3. name the starting 9 and their respective positions

[Keith]

could have sworn I read an article recently in Sports Illustrated that referred to this "event". Wasn't it the Pittsburgh Pirates--in 1970 or 71 ?

[Randle Pat McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Keith

could have sworn I read an article recently in Sports Illustrated that referred to this "event". Wasn't it the Pittsburgh Pirates--in 1970 or 71 ?

Good job, Keith, that was quicker than I had expected.

Was indeed the 1971 Pirates -- the same '71 team which shocked the world in winning the World Series against the 100+ games won Baltimore Orioles. Wasnt supposed to be a contest. If you ever get a chance, the DVD set for the '71 series is worth watching.


Since we know the team and year, anyone wish to take a stab at the starting lineup which took the field that day? A few are easy to figure out, some will be pretty tough without the help of an online search.

1B
2B
SS
3B
LF
CF
RF
C
SP

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Randle Pat McMurphy

Good job, Keith, that was quicker than I had expected.

Was indeed the 1971 Pirates -- the same '71 team which shocked the world in winning the World Series against the 100+ games won Baltimore Orioles. Wasnt supposed to be a contest. If you ever get a chance, the DVD set for the '71 series is worth watching.


Since we know the team and year, anyone wish to take a stab at the starting lineup which took the field that day? A few are easy to figure out, some will be pretty tough without the help of an online search.

1B
2B
SS
3B
LF
CF
RF
C
SP

thanks RPM. It was an article about a reunion of the '71 Pirates that a sportswriter was attending--meeting his childhood heros as an adult.

Glad I can still pass the "reading comprehension" part of the test

[Randle Pat McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Keith

thanks RPM. It was an article about a reunion of the '71 Pirates that a sportswriter was attending--meeting his childhood heros as an adult.

Glad I can still pass the "reading comprehension" part of the test

If you think about it, 24 years after Jackie Robinson wasnt really that long of a time span. With all the controversy when he entered the league, would have thought it would be a long time before a team would start a non-white lineup.

Would be interested to see how long it took some of the teams in the south to integrate to the same degree. Something else to read about I guess.

[chibob]

No need to go South. Try the N E ,. Boston..I believe it was in the early 60", Pumpsie Greene, might have been his name..Greene for sure

[revnecro1273]

weird about pittsburgh...now they have like 2 non whities in their starting line up

[Randle Pat McMurphy]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

weird about pittsburgh...now they have like 2 non whities in their starting line up

Interesting but not very astute observation. You may want to point out that the starting lineup changes alot everyday at the present time due to injuries to 3 of their "normal" starters who all happen to be non-white.

Alvarez is back today and will start at 3rd, McCutchen will start in CF, Cedeno will start at SS, Tabata will soon start in LF as his DL stint is almost over, and on any given day Paul will make starts in RF.

Really not that "weird" in today's MLB IMHO.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by Randle Pat McMurphy

Interesting but not very astute observation. You may want to point out that the starting lineup changes alot everyday at the present time due to injuries to 3 of their "normal" starters who all happen to be non-white.

Alvarez is back today and will start at 3rd, McCutchen will start in CF, Cedeno will start at SS, Tabata will soon start in LF as his DL stint is almost over, and on any given day Paul will make starts in RF.

Really not that "weird" in today's MLB IMHO.

is weird in an american sports world where the top sports have the majority of non whities on rosters...and a team that hasn't had a winning season in aeons is doing it with mostly whities...think it is quite weird in this day and age