Calling out the Yankees

Jackie Robinson, seen here upending Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto in the 1947 World Series, uses a New York-based TV program as a platform 71 years ago today to accuse the Yankees of being racist.

Robinson chides the Yankees in 1952 for failing to have a Black player on their team and not following the lead set by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, when they made Robinson the major leagues’ first Black player in the 20th century.

The Yankees flatly deny the charge, although they still are more than two years away from breaking their own color barrier.

Finally, in 1955, the Yankees promote Elston Howard from the minors, where the 26-year-old catcher has been dominating Class AAA pitching over the previous two seasons.

Howard goes on to have a distinguished career in the majors, helping the Yankees reach the World Series in nine of his first 10 seasons with them, being named to 12 All-Star teams and winning the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1963.

Elston Howard with fellow Yankees catcher Yogi Berra