Editing Roy Campanella (section)

===Minor leagues===
Campanella moved into the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]' [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] system in {{mlby|1946}} as the Dodger organization began preparations to break the MLB color barrier with [[Jackie Robinson]].  His easy-going personality and strong work ethic were credited with his being able to move successfully between the races. Although [[Branch Rickey]] considered hiring Campanella to break baseball's color barrier, Rickey ultimately decided upon Robinson.<ref name="kashatus65">''Jackie & Campy'' by William C Kashatus, pp, 65-68 &75</ref>

For the 1946 season, Robinson was assigned to the [[Montreal Royals]], the Dodgers' affiliate in the Class AAA [[International League]].  On March 18, 1946, Campanella signed a contract to play for Danville Dodgers of the [[Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-collectibles/others/1946-roy-campanella-double-signed-class-b-danville-dodgers-player-s-contract/a/7123-81725.s|title=1946 Roy Campanella Double-Signed Class B Danville Dodgers {{!}} Lot #81725|website=Heritage Auctions|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> After the general manager of the Danville Dodgers reported that he did not feel the league was ready for [[racial integration]], the organization sent Campanella and pitcher [[Don Newcombe]] to the [[Nashua Dodgers]] of the Class B [[New England League]], where the Dodgers felt the climate would be more tolerant. The Nashua team thus became the first professional baseball team of the 20th century to field a racially integrated lineup in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=Michael |date=May 30, 2023|agency=Associated Press |title=Nashua recognized for historic role in racially integrating baseball in the 1940s |url=https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2023-05-30/nashua-recognized-for-historic-role-in-racially-integrating-baseball-in-the-1940s |access-date=September 7, 2024 |publisher=[[New Hampshire Public Radio]]}}</ref>

Campanella's 1946 season proceeded largely without racist incidents, and in one game Campanella assumed the managerial duties after manager [[Walter Alston]] was ejected. Campanella was the first [[African American]] to manage White players of an organized professional baseball team. Nashua was three runs down at the time Campanella took over. They came back to win, in part due to Campanella's decision to use Newcombe as a pinch hitter during the seventh inning; Newcombe hit a game-tying two-run home run.