First Black Players to Enter Professional Leagues

Athletes who integrated the NBA, NFL and more.

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Earl Lloyd - When Earl Lloyd entered the National Basketball Association in 1950, he and three other players became the first Black players to do so. In addition, Lloyd, a member of the Washington Capitals, became the first African-American to play in an NBA game when his team took on the Rochester Royals that year.(Photo:  NBAE Photos/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
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Althea Gibson - Tennis prodigy Althea Gibson conquered African-American tennis tournaments and, in 1950, she was given the opportunity to shatter even more records when she became the first African-American woman to compete at the U.S. Open. In 1951, she made her first appearance at Wimbledon. She was winner of the French Open in 1956, Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, and the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958.(Photo:  Central Press/Getty Images)Charlie Sifford - Golfer Charlie Sifford became the first Black PGA Tour member in 1962, paving the way for other Black golfing greats such Peter Brown, the first African-American to win a PGA tournament, and Tiger Woods, the first person of color to win the Masters.(Photo: PGA TOUR Archive/WireImage)

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Earl Lloyd - When Earl Lloyd entered the National Basketball Association in 1950, he and three other players became the first Black players to do so. In addition, Lloyd, a member of the Washington Capitals, became the first African-American to play in an NBA game when his team took on the Rochester Royals that year.(Photo:  NBAE Photos/ NBAE/ Getty Images)

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