BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 1961: Elston Howard #32 of the New York Yankees follows through his swing during the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium on October 1961 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images)
On this day back in 1955, 8 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, Elston Howard became the first African American player to don the pinstripes.
In 1948, a 19 year old Howard turned down scholarships from Big Ten universities to enter the Negro Leagues. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs for 3 years as an outfielder, and roomed with Ernie Banks.