First Jackie, finally Pumpsie

Pumpsie Green, right, with Ted Williams

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 65 years ago today finally become the last big league team to integrate as Pumpsie Green makes his debut for them.

Green’s first appearance with Boston comes as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz in a 2-1 loss to the White Sox before a Tuesday night crowd of 28,543 at Chicago's Comiskey Park.

Green, 25 years old at the time of his Red Sox debut in 1959, 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 in 1945 to sign Robinson, 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.

As for Green, he spends his career and retirement reflecting on his moment in history.

“When I was playing, being the first Black on the Red Sox wasn’t nearly as big a source of pride as it would be once I was out of the game,” Green later tells author Danny Peary.

“At the time, I never put much stock in it, or thought about it. Later I understood my place in history. I don’t know if I would have been better in another organization with more Black players. But as it turned out, I became increasingly proud to have been with the Red Sox as their first Black.”