On this date in 1901, the Baltimore Orioles manager John McGraw signed a Cherokee Indian named Tokohama to play 2nd base. In reality, Tokohama wasn't Native American - he was an African-American whose real name was Charlie Grant. The ruse didn't work and Grant never played a game for the Orioles after Charles Comiskey recognized him as a player from the Negro Leagues.
46 years later, Jackie Robinson officially broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
46 years later, Jackie Robinson officially broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.