April 15, 2024

Official Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame News Release

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will commemorate the 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s major league debut with a display at Rogers Centre on Jackie Robinson Day.

On Monday, April 15, while the Toronto Blue Jays take on the New York Yankees, fans will have an opportunity to view an exhibit of artifacts assembled by the Hall that shines the spotlight on Robinson, as well as prominent Black Canadian players and teams.  

“We are extremely proud to be part of Jackie Robinson Day at the Rogers Centre,” said Jeremy Diamond, chair of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s board of directors. “We are excited to share Jackie’s courageous and inspirational story, and further educate people about the rich history of Black players and teams in Canada.”

Prior to breaking Major League Baseball’s colour barrier in 1947, Robinson excelled with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ triple-A Montreal Royals, leading the International League in batting average and propelling the Royals to their first Junior World Series title.

Robinson’s tenure in Montreal is part of a long and rich history of Black players and teams in Canada.

That history includes Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees such as:

William Galloway (Dunnville, Ont.) who played for Woodstock of the Class D Canadian League in 1899 to become the first Black Canadian to compete in organized baseball

Jimmy Claxton (Wellington, B.C.) who played for the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League in 1916 and appeared on a Zee-Nut series baseball card that same year, which made him the first Black player to be featured on a U.S.-made card.

Several successful Black teams such as the Lincoln Nine of London, Chatham Coloured All-Stars and Montreal Black Panthers also courageously blazed a trail in provinces across Canada.

Some of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum artifacts that will be on display at the Rogers Centre on Jackie Robinson Day will include:

-No. 42 base used at Exhibition Stadium in the mid-to-late 1980s to honour Robinson (see above photo).

-No. 42 base used on the last Jackie Robinson Day in Montreal in 2004.

-A Chatham Coloured All-Stars jersey worn by the Blue Jays during a game in 2001.

-Brooklyn Dodgers 1956 National League champions bat, featuring Jackie Robinson.

Located in St. Marys, Ont., the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame opens its doors for the season on May 1. It will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.