Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers had just wrapped up spring training 61 years ago, but not in their usual location in Daytona Beach, Florida because they feared a racist reaction to Robinson. So they conducted training in Havana. This author says the sight of black players playing baseball in Cuba was no big deal, as blacks were playing baseball in Cuba since the 1900s. but the white players were put up at the nicest hotel in town, while Robinson had to stay in an older hotel. Jackie played his first Major League Baseball game 61 years ago today.