DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Making history, Robinson broke the MLB “color line,” pointing to the end of racial segregation in professional baseball.

Prior to that year, Robinson was prohibited from playing in southern cities during spring training, including DeLand and Sanford. One exception was at the minor league ballpark in Daytona Beach, which was renamed after Robinson in 1989.

On Wednesday, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark is home to the Class A Daytona Tortugas, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. On site, baseball fans will find a Jackie Robinson statue, historical markers, and a museum celebrating Robinson’s achievements.

Spectrum News Executive Producer Nathanael Paul got exclusive access to the park and sits down one-on-one with the team’s General Manager to discuss the history of the park and Jackie’s legacy. 

And, join Spectrum News Anchor Tammie Fields for a moving one-hour collection of stories, highlighting the adversity, achievements and goals of African Americans across Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area.