caption: This Week in History: <PERSON> became a civil rights icon for generations when the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him to play on April 10, 1947, breaking a decades-long barrier to people of color in professional baseball. The Dodgers' owner <PERSON> selected <PERSON> for his clean cut good looks and ability to hold back his rage, as much as his considerable skill on the diamond. When first interviewing <PERSON> he hurled racial epithets at him as a short preview of what <PERSON> would eventually encounter in ballparks across the country. <PERSON>'s resolve impressed <PERSON> and his trailblazing new recruit quickly became a sensation in the Major Leagues, winning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors over the course of his career as well as a World Series title in 1955. Here, Brooklyn Dodger's <PERSON> steps up to bat during a game on Aug. 28, 1949.