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Photograph of Jackie Robinson by Harold Carter, published on November 26, 1945 in LIFE magazine.

Jackie Robinson signed a contract to play for the Dodgers' farm team, the Montreal Royals of the International League, on October 23, 1945, and LIFE magazine quickly arranged for his first photographic feature.

LIFE photographer Harold Carter met Robinson at Ebbets Field, although Robinson would not play there for another 17 months. Carter could have photographed Robinson's batting grip, as other LIFE photographers had done with Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, but he made a conscious decision not to, instead showing him about to take the bat in his hands as he prepares to start "baseball's great experiment." Using Robinson's own sweatshirt and pants as a graphic device to highlight his skin, the result is a portrait at least as interesting as any traditional photograph of a face.