Monte Irvin

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, a power-hitting outfielder who starred for the New York Giants in the 1950s in a career abbreviated by major-league baseball’s exclusion of black players. A native of Haleburg, Alabama, Irvin played in the Negro, Mexican and Puerto Rican leagues during his 20s. Irvin was 30 when he joined the Giants in 1949, two years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Irvin spent seven of his eight big-league seasons with the Giants and one year with the Cubs in 1956. On Aug. 21, 1968, commissioner William D. Eckert named Irvin assistant director of public relations for baseball, becoming the first African-American executive in professional baseball’s hierarchy. Later, Irvin was named special assistant to commissioner Bowie Kuhn. In 1973, Irvin was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Negro League Committee. On Aug. 6, 1973, Irvin entered the Hall with pitcher Warren Spahn and outfielder Roberto Clemente, who months earlier had been killed in a plane crash. Despite retiring before the Giants moved to San Francisco, Irvin kept ties with the organization. He had his number retired in 2010 and was one of several Hall of Famers to throw out a ceremonial first pitch that season at the World Series. He went to the White House last summer when San Francisco’s 2014 World Series championship team was honored.