Curt Roberts
*Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates featured their first Black player on this date in 1954.
Curt Roberts, formerly of the Kansas City Monarchs, integrated the Buc’s 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.
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