jackie robinson day is an annual event in major league baseball. it honors the day jackie robinson made his major league debut, becoming the first black major league baseball player of the modern era. april 15 was opening day in 1947. the day was first commemorated on april 15, 2004. robinson played for the brooklyn dodgers (today known as the los angeles dodgers) ended 80 years of baseball segregation. he was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1962.