Beneath our feet lies more than just pavement. It lies baseball history. We’re standing at Place des Royaux Plaque. This plaque commemorates Jackie Robinson’s time with the Montreal Royals.
The Montreal Royals were a minor league team. They belonged to the International League. They were also a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1946, the Royals signed Jackie Robinson. That year they won the Little World Series.
Consider this: Branch Rickey, the Dodgers’ executive, chose Montreal. He believed it to be a racially tolerant city. Montreal’s Little Burgundy was known as “Harlem of the North” because of the jazz scene. Also in 1946, the Montreal Alouettes signed Herb Tranwick. Tranwick was the first Black player in the Canadian Football League.
Robinson debuted with the Royals on April 18, 1946. It was against the Jersey City Giants. The game was in Jersey City. 52,000 fans watched. In his second at-bat, Robinson hit a three-run homerun. Teammate George Shuba shook Robinson’s hand. It was the first interracial handshake in pro baseball. People call it the “Handshake of the Century”.
When the Royals played their home opener in Montreal, Robinson was a hero. Maurice “Rocket” Richard watched from the stands. After the game, Robinson signed autographs for an hour.
The Royals played at Delorimier Stadium. The stadium held 20,000 people. It was located at Ontario Street East and De Lorimier Avenue. The Alouettes also played there until 1953. After the Royals left in 1960, the stadium was torn down in 1969. École Pierre-Dupuy high school was built there.
Now, Place des Royaux is at the corner of De Lorimier and Ontario streets. This is where home plate used to be. The city put up the plaque honoring Robinson in 1989. A red batting cage surrounds it.
In 1946, Robinson batted .349. He had 40 stolen bases and 113 runs. He won the International League batting title.
After his season with the Royals, Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1947. He broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. He won Rookie of the Year that year. Robinson won the World Series in 1955. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Jackie Robinson’s impact went beyond baseball. Martin Luther King Jr. said Robinson made his success possible.
Today, Jackie Robinson is still revered in Montreal. There are murals and projections of him around the city. In 1958, Jackie and his wife Rachel visited Montreal. The Mayor greeted them at City Hall. Jackie signed the city’s Golden Book.
This plaque at Place des Royaux Plaque marks more than just a location. It marks a moment. A moment of change, acceptance, and the enduring legacy of Jackie Robinson.