Before joining Dodgers, Jackie Robinson was in Cuba with Royals

April 15: On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, thus breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

What was the most socially significant event baseball history began that spring in Havana, Cuba, where the Dodgers and their Montreal Royals farm team -- which included Robinson --held spring training.

In this photo that was up for auction at Leland's in February 2007, Robinson shakes hands with Dodgers manager Leo Durocher at El Gran Stadium de la Habana, where the Dodgers played exhibition games.

Marrero, Moreno were dominant for 1947 Havana Cubans

Havana Cubans program from the 1947 Florida International League season.

The 1947 Cubans won the then-Class C league championship, beating the Tampa Smokers by two games in the standings.

Havana included pitchers Connie Marrero and Julio Moreno. Marrero went 25-6 with a 1.66 ERA. Moreno went 19-4 with a 2.143 ERA.