On this very day – April 14, 1955 – Elston Howard became the first African-American to play for the New York Yankees, and Howard would prove to be a fitting choice, for the St. Louis native became one of only 13 Yankees, ever, to win the MVP.
Still, the casual, modern fan might not know much of the catcher Elston Howard. As the Cardinals flock to Yankee Stadium this weekend, we should be reminded of today's anniversary, when the St. Louisan Howard played his first big-league game, lining an RBI single in his first big-league at-bat. (The runner who scored?