1953 Topps #243, Carlos Bernier RC ⭐
MLB credits Curtis Roberts with breaking the color barrier for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
However, a full season before Curtis Roberts played a game for the Bucs there was Carlos Bernier.
Carlos Bernier was a speedy outfielder from Puerto Rico, and made his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 22, 1953. He is often cited as the first Black player to appear for the Pirates, predating Curt Roberts, who debuted with the team in 1954 and is more widely recognized in that role. Bernier’s case is complicated because, as a dark-skinned Latino, his racial identity was viewed differently at the time compared to African American players. Nonetheless, his debut represents an early and significant moment in the integration of the Pirates and highlights the broader role of Afro-Latino players in breaking baseball’s racial barriers.