Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in an MLB All-Star Game in 1949.
The 1949 Midsummer Classic marked another milestone in Robinson’s barrier-breaking career. He was selected as the National League’s starting second baseman, joining fellow Black players Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe on the National League roster. Larry Doby represented the American League, making the game a landmark for baseball integration.
Robinson’s selection came only two years after his April 15, 1947, MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. By 1949, he had established himself as an elite player, batting .342, leading the National League in hitting and stolen bases, and winning the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.
The date is sometimes confused with 1947, the year Robinson first entered MLB, or 1948, when Doby became the first Black player in the American League. The specific All-Star milestone belongs to 1949.