Baseball’s World Series began in 1903 but it wasn’t until 1947 that Black athletes became a part of that so-called “World.”

From 1903 to 1946, the World Series was a whites-only celebration. That all changed in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color line with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

As excitement builds for the 2022 Series, it’s time for a stroll down memory lane.

In the beginning: Robinson won Rookie of the Year in ’47 while helping Brooklyn reach the Series against its next borough neighbor, the New York Yankees.

Robinson and pitcher Dan Bankhead, who joined the Dodgers later that season, became the first Black athletes to suit up for a Series (other than the old Negro Leagues World Series).

Finally getting to shine on the brightest stage, Robinson went 7-for-30 with two doubles, two RBIs and two stolen bases as Brooklyn fell to the Yankees in seven games. Bankhead did not pitch in the Series, but he does have the title of being the first big league Black pitcher.

Robinson went on to play in the 1952, ’53, ’55 and ’56 Series with Brooklyn, winning just once, in ’55.

Ol’ Folks Home: Negro Leagues icon Satchel Paige was already 42 and well past his prime when he appeared in the 1948 Series for Cleveland.

Joining Paige with the Indians was outfielder Larry Doby, who had become the American League’s first black player in ’47.

Paige and Doby became the first Black athletes to play for a World Series winning team after downing the Boston Braves in six games. It was the last time Cleveland won the Series.

Doby went 7-for-22 and became the first Black to smash a World Series home run in ’48. Paige hurled just one inning in the ’48 Series but, defying age, continued to pitch in the big leagues until ’53.

Not your Average Joe: When Black Dodgers of the late ’40s/early ’50s are discussed, you mostly hear about Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe.

Joe Black, a hero of the 1952 regular season and World Series, deserves to be in that same conversation.

In 1952, Black might have been the best pitcher in all of baseball, Black or white. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander was 15-4 during the season with 15 saves and a 2.15 ERA. He was Rookie of Year and third in MVP voting.

In Game One of the Series, against the Yankees, Black became first African-American to register a pitching win 4-2. He was later the hard-luck loser in Game Four (2-0) and Game Seven (4-2).

The Series’ 1954 champs, the New York Giants, featured three Black players, Monte Irvin, Hank Thompson and a centerfielder you may heard of — Willie Mays.

The 1957 Milwaukee Braves had a lineup with infielder Felix Mantilla and outfielders Bill Bruton, Wes Covington and the iconic Hank Aaron.

In ’59 it was Los Angeles’ turn. In their second season since moving from Brooklyn, the Dodgers had a nearly all-Black infield with catcher John Roseboro, second baseman Charlie Neal, shortstop Maury Wills and third baseman Jim Gilliam.

2022: The 118th edition of baseball’s grand finale is set for Oct. 28 to about Nov. 5. It’s called the World Series and, thankfully, now the whole World is invited. Pull up a chair.