As the 1940s unfolded, the dreams of black athletes to compete in the major leagues were finally fulfilled. The dream opened with a trickle—no mad influx of black stars occurred—but it at least removed the barrier to Negro leagues stars. A combination of black pressure, economic factors, a world war, action by influential whites, and the right man finally opened major league baseball to black ballplayers.

Foundation for Civil Rights

Every athlete who played in black baseball removed a piece of the wall separating white from black ballplayers. Many did not live to see integration, but they proved that black athletes could perform at the same high level as whites. Stars such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, as well as unheralded players such as George Rossiter and Harry Salmon, placed their...