[Tay1038]

1965-68 Ozzie Virgil Sr. Hillerich & Bradsby Game Used Bat

Virgil made his minor league debut in 1953 in St. Cloud, Minnesota in the Northern League. After spending the 1956 season with the Minneapolis Millers, Virgil made his major league debut that fall for the New York Giants.

On September 23, 1956, Virgil became the first player from the Dominican Republic to play Major League Baseball. On June 6, 1958 he became the first black ballplayer for the Detroit Tigers, who were among the last teams to break the racial barrier.

The Minneapolis Millers had four players to break the MLB color barriers - Monte Irvin (NYG), Hank Thompson (STLB), Ozzie Virgil (DET) and Pumpsie Green (BOS)