Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard [Football]
The Rose Bowl, 1916
Pasadena, California
In 1916, Fritz Pollard became the first African American to play in the Rose Bowl and the first to be named All-American. He went on to a seven-year career in the NFL with Akron Pros as player. In 1923, he made another breakthrough when named head coach of the Akron Pros. He would be the only African-American head coach in NFL history until 1989, three years after his death.

Louise Stokes and Tydia Pickett [Track and Field]
1932 Summer Olympic Games, 1932
Los Angeles, California
Louise Stokes and Tydia Pickett were the first African-American women to be included on a U.S. Olympic team. Both qualified for track and field events; however, they remained on the bench because the coach entered only white team members in the events.

American Professional League and Pacific Coast Professional League [Basketball]
Professional Basketball League , 1944
Los Angeles, California
These two basketball leagues desegregated in 1944 and employed Kenny Washington (Hollywood Bears) and Jackie Robinson (Los Angeles Bulldogs) before they went on to integrate the NFL and Major League Baseball.

Kenny Washington [Football]
National Football League, March 21, 1946
Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Rams became the first integrated team in the NFL when they signed Kenny Washington. On May 7, 1947, they signed a second African-American player, Woody Strode.

Donald Barksdale [Basketball]
1948 Summer Olympic Games, 1948
Berkeley, California
UCLA's Donald Barksdale, the first African American named to a U.S. Olympic basketball team, went on to win a gold medal.

Oscar Johnson [Tennis]
United States Lawn Tennis Association, 1948
Los Angeles, California
In August 1948, African-American tennis junior, Oscar Johnson, played in the National Junior Public Parks championships in Griffith Park, Los Angeles; in December of the same year he competed in the National Junior Indoor championships in St. Louis.

Joe Louis [Golf]
Professional Golfers Association, 1952
San Diego, California
Boxer Joe Louis became the first African American to play in a PGA sanctioned event.

Burl Toler [Football]
National Football League, September 19 1965
San Francisco, California
Burl Toler was named by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to be the first African-American football field judge in the NFL. The AFL's first African-American official was Aaron Wade.

Cisero Murphy [Billiards]
U.S. National Billiards Championship, 1965
Burbank, California
In 1965, Cisero Murphy became the first African-American National Billiards champion after the color bar to the World Invitational championships was dropped. He was the first and only player ever to win in his first championship match, defeating Joe Balsis, Jimmy Moore, and Luther Lassiter.

Atoy Wilson [Figure Skating]
U.S. Figure Skating Championships, 1966
Berkeley, California
Atoy Wilson was the first African-American man to win a national figure skating title in the men's novice category of the U.S. National Championships. He also competed in the men's juniors in Philadelphia in 1968.

Ruth White [Fencing]
Women's Foils, 1969
Los Angeles, California
17-year-old Ruth White was the youngest and first African-American woman to win the National Fencing Championship. She was selected to fence on the 1972 U.S. Olympic team.

James Harris [Football]
National Football League, 1974
Los Angeles, California
James Harris became the first African-American quarterback to be a starter in the NFL, throwing for the Los Angeles Rams.

Bobby Beauchamp [Figure Skating]
World Junior Figure Skating Championships, 1979
Santa Monica, California
Bobby Beauchamp was the first African-American man to win a silver medal in international skating competition at the world junior championship in Augsburg, West Germany.

Charlie Sampson [Rodeo]
Winston Rodeo, 1982
Los Angeles, California
In 1982, Charlie Sampson became the first African-American world champion rodeo bullrider. The 134-pound "Mighty Mite" also won the Winston Rodeo the same year.

Greg Gibson [Weightlifting]
1984 Summer Olympic Games, 1984
Los Angeles, California
Greg Gibson was the first African-American Greco-Roman wrestler (220 pounds) to medal, winning the silver.

Peter Westbrook [Fencing]
1984 Summer Olympic Games, 1984
Los Angeles, California
Peter Westbrook was the first African American to win a medal in fencing, taking the bronze in mens' saber in the Los Angeles games.

Nelson Vails [Cycling]
1984 Summer Olympic Games, 1984
Los Angeles, California
Nelson Vails became the first African-American bicycle rider to medal in the Olympics, collecting a silver in the sprints.

Doug Williams [Football]
National Football League, January 31 1988
San Diego, California
Doug Williams became the first African-American quarterback to lead his team, the Washington Redskins, to the Super Bowl championship. The game's MVP, Williams defeated the Denver Broncos 42-10.

Art Shell [Football]
National Football League, 1989
Los Angeles, California
In 1989, Art Shell became the first African-American coach in the NFL, taking charge of the Los Angeles Raiders.

Eldrick T. "Tiger" Woods [Golf]
Masters Tournament, PGA, April 13, 1997
Cypress, California
In 1997, California-born Tiger Woods became the first golfer of African-American heritage to win the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. He also became the first African-American golfer to win the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the British Open. In capturing the Masters for a second time in 2001, Woods completed golf's Grand Slam to become the only golfer ever to hold all four majors championships at the same time.

Dain Blanton [Volleyball]
American Volleyball Professional Championship, 1997
Hermosa Beach, California
Dain Blanton won the professional beach volleyball championship in the AVP finals in 1997. He was also the first African American to win a gold medal in beach volleyball, in the Sydney Olympics of 2000.

Anthony Ervin [Swimming]
2000 Summer Olympic Games, September 22, 2000
Valencia, California
The first African-American U.S. Olympic swim team qualifier and gold medalist in a swimming event was Anthony Ervin. Before a crowd at the Sydney, Australia, swimming venue, he won the 50-meter freestyle.

Barry Bonds [Baseball]
Major League Baseball, October 7, 2001
San Francisco, California
On October 7, 2001 in Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit his 73rd home run of the season, surpassing previous recordholder Mark McGwire's mark of 70 home runs.