First Jackie, finally Pumpsie

More than 12 years after Jackie Robinson breaks the major leagues’ color barrier in 1947 and nearly three years after the great Robinson retires, the Boston Red Sox 64 years ago today finally become the last big league team to integrate as Pumpsie Green makes his debut for them.

Green, whose first appearance with Boston in 1959 comes as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz in a 2-1 loss at Chicago's Comiskey Park, spends all or parts of four seasons with the Red Sox before playing his final 17 games in the majors for the New York Mets in 1963 – the year after Robinson is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

As for the not-so-forward-thinking Red Sox, they miss a chance to sign Robinson in 1945, as well as passing on a chance a few years later to sign Willie Mays.

Now, imagine how Boston’s offense might have looked in the 1950s with a lineup that includes Robinson, Mays and Ted Williams.