A 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Braves Exhibition Official Scorecard Featuring Jackie Robinson
Original official scorecard for exhibition game held at Birmingham's Rickwood Field on April 2, 1954 with additional insert of rosters for both teams (toning).
On April 2, 1954, fans settled in to watch the first of two exhibition games which saw the Brooklyn Dodgers go up against the Milwaukee Braves. This particular game violated Birmingham's city code, section 597, which expressly prohibited whites from playing in the same game as blacks - a code that Commissioner of Public Safety "Bull" Connor was determined to enforce at all costs. Excitement for the game was so high, however, that for one of the first times in Birmingham sports history white fans sat amongst black fans. Connor was forced to stand down, the game proceeded as normal, and the Brooklyn Dodgers as led by Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella bested the Braves by 7-6. Within a week of this game a young player named Henry "Hank" Aaron would make his debut as a Milwaukee Brave against the Cincinnati Reds.