Twelve years, three months and six days after Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Dodgers, the Red Sox begrudgingly became the last MLB team to integrate. Only under the ongoing investigation and charges of violating Massachusetts's Fair Employment Law, did the Sox relent. Pinky Higgins the Red Sox manager was quoted as saying "There’ll be no n* on this ball club as long as I have anything to say about it.” He was replaced by Billy Jurges exactly 2 weeks before Green was called up.
Enough about Yawkey's Red Sox and what was referred to at the time as "Aryan Acres" and more about Pumpsie Green. He platooned as a middle infielder his whole career. He batted an adequate .246. He played pro ball from 1951-1965. But his MLB career was just from 1959-1963. He was named to Topps Rookie All-Star team in 1959. He appeared on Topps cards from 1960-1964.
I have chosen to depict him on a 1959 Rookie Stars card. In 2008 Topps gave him a 1959 style insert as part of that season's Heritage issue. Although his career stats don't bear it out, his accomplishments and sacrifices has endeared him to fans everywhere.