This story was written by Curt Nelson, Director of the Royals Hall of Fame
Jackie Robinson’s professional baseball career began here in Kansas City. He played shortstop for the Monarchs for much of the 1945 season and did so at his usual high level — enough to make him the West All-Stars’ starting shortstop at the annual East-West Game played at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Dodgers President Branch Rickey was at the forefront of progressive baseball executives searching for a player to finally integrate the Major Leagues and young Jack Roosevelt Robinson perfectly fit the bill.