The first contract Jackie Robinson signed along with Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey on Oct. 23, 1945, was an agreement to play for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ top farm club. The deal called for a $3,500-signing bonus and $600 per month for the 1946 season.
Less than two years later, on April 11, 1947, Robinson signed his first major league contract along with Rickey and National League president Ford Frick. He would be paid $5,000 for the season.
What happened next is well-documented and annually celebrated.
Five days after signing, Robinson made history by becoming the first Black player to play Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier.