<P> After much lobbying of local officials by Rickey himself, the Royals were allowed to host a game involving Robinson in Daytona Beach . Robinson made his Royals debut at Daytona Beach's City Island Ballpark on March 17, 1946, in an exhibition game against the team's parent club, the Dodgers . Robinson thus became the first black player to openly play for a minor league team against a major league team since the de facto baseball color line had been implemented in the 1880s . </P> <P> Later in spring training, after some less - than - stellar performances, Robinson was shifted from shortstop to second base, allowing him to make shorter throws to first base . Robinson's performance soon rebounded . On April 18, 1946, Roosevelt Stadium hosted the Jersey City Giants' season opener against the Montreal Royals, marking the professional debut of the Royals' Jackie Robinson and the first time the color barrier had been broken in a game between two minor league clubs . Pitching against Robinson was Warren Sandel who had played against him when they both lived in California . During Robinson's first at bat, the Jersey City catcher, Dick Bouknight, demanded that Sandel throw at Robinson, but Sandel refused . Although Sandel induced Robinson to ground out at his first at bat, Robinson ended up with four hits in his five trips to the plate; his first hit was a three - run home run in the game's third inning . He also scored four runs, drove in three, and stole two bases in the Royals' 14--1 victory . Robinson proceeded to lead the International League that season with a . 349 batting average and . 985 fielding percentage, and he was named the league's Most Valuable Player . Although he often faced hostility while on road trips (the Royals were forced to cancel a Southern exhibition tour, for example), the Montreal fan base enthusiastically supported Robinson . Whether fans supported or opposed it, Robinson's presence on the field was a boon to attendance; more than one million people went to games involving Robinson in 1946, an amazing figure by International League standards . In the fall of 1946, following the baseball season, Robinson returned home to California and briefly played professional basketball for the short - lived Los Angeles Red Devils . </P> <P> In 1947, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the major leagues six days before the start of the season . With Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson played his initial major league season as a first baseman . On April 15, Robinson made his major league debut at the relatively advanced age of 28 at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black . Although he failed to get a base hit, he walked and scored a run in the Dodgers' 5--3 victory . Robinson became the first player since 1880 to openly break the major league baseball color line . Black fans began flocking to see the Dodgers when they came to town, abandoning their Negro league teams . </P> <P> Robinson's promotion met a generally positive, although mixed, reception among newspapers and white major league players . However, racial tension existed in the Dodger clubhouse . Some Dodger players insinuated they would sit out rather than play alongside Robinson . The brewing mutiny ended when Dodgers management took a stand for Robinson . Manager Leo Durocher informed the team, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra . I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays . What's more, I say he can make us all rich . And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded ." </P>

How old was jackie robinson when he was a rookie