Monte Irvin
Baseball Player
Baseball historians argue that Monte Irvin would have been the first African American Major League Baseball player if it were not for refusing Branch Rickey's proposal to play for the Dodgers in 1945.
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Biography
Like many great black athletes of his time, Monte Irvin played out most of his Hall of Fame career in the Negro Leagues. However, he played an instrumental role during his eight seasons with the New York Giants helping them win two pennants.
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Quote
"He was the best all-around player I ever saw." -- Roy Campanella