On This Day in Northeast Ohio History: April 8

Frank Robinson Makes History as MLB’s First Black Manager (1975)

On April 8, 1975, Frank Robinson made baseball history at Cleveland Municipal Stadium when he debuted as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first African American manager in Major League Baseball history. In his first at-bat against the New York Yankees, Robinson hit a home run off pitcher Doc Medich, helping lead the Indians to a 5-3 victory. A crowd of 56,204 fans gave Robinson a tremendous ovation during team introductions, which Robinson later described as the biggest and best of his career.

Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while former Indians pitcher Mudcat Grant sang the National Anthem for this momentous occasion. This landmark event came nearly 28 years after Jackie Robinson (no relation to Frank) broke baseball’s color barrier by becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues.

Cleveland Baseball Legacy

Robinson managed the Indians from 1975-1977, leading them to their first winning season in eight years with an 81-78 record in 1976. His significant contributions to Cleveland baseball were recognized in 2016 when he was elected to the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame, and in 2017 when a statue was dedicated in his honor at Progressive Field.