Curt Roberts
*Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates started their first Black player on this date in 1954.
Curt Roberts, formerly of the Kansas City Monarchs, integrated the Bucs as their opening-day second baseman that year. The Pirates’ 72-year-old general manager, Branch Rickey, had signed the infielder.
Roberts was a sensational defensive player but lasted only one full year in the majors, batting .223 overall.
