Integrating American sports....

[George II]

It's commonly known that Jackie Robinson was the first black player in major league baseball in 1947. Less commonly known is that the last team to integrate was the Boston Red Sox, twelve years later in 1959.

Even LESS commonly known is that the first team to integrate in the National Hockey League is the team from the same city - Boston. The first black player ever in the National Hockey League was Willie O'Ree, a year BEFORE the last baseball team, and both happened in Boston!

I'm watching the game between Vancouver and Los Angeles, and they just honored Mr. O'Ree, where I learned about his integrating of the NHL.

[teach1st]

1. Here is a good Wikipedia listing

List of African-American sports firsts