The new Jackie Robinson biographical film “42” opens nationwide Friday. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey to tell the story of the historic signing by the Brooklyn Dodgers and breaking baseball’s color barrier.

Cedar Rapids professional baseball has a similar story to share. On June 15, 1949, future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Emlen Tunnell became the first African American to appear in a minor league baseball game in Iowa - following Robinson’s signing - when he played left field for the Cedar Rapids Rockets.

Tunnell went 2-for-5 in his pro debut while breaking the Central Association’s color barrier. He played in five games over four days for Cedar Rapids gathering five hits in 18 plate appearances while playing in the outfield for the Rockets.

“After the game on June 18, 1949, Adam Pratt, the Rockets owner said,  '(Emlen) came to us after the game and said he was going home, his bag was already packed.  He said he hadn’t been doing as well as he should and since he would have to leave before the season was over anyway to join the (New York Giants) football club, he had decided to go.'" – from"‘Emlen Tunnell, Minor League Less Than" by Steve Smith.

Tunnell had played two seasons for the University of Iowa’s football team (1946-47) following his service in the Coast Guard during World War II. Most NFL teams thought he would return for a third season at Iowa, but he reached out to the Giants searching for professional opportunities.

The Rockets in 1949 were not affiliated with a Major League organization. It was the first year baseball returned to Cedar Rapids since the end of the 1942 season, when the minor leagues were decimated by a manpower shortage brought on by World War II. The Rockets played as an independent club in their brand new Veterans Memorial Stadium, which was razed in 2002 when the current stadium was built. The Rockets were responsible for signing their own players.

Tunnell was reluctant to come to Cedar Rapids after leaving the University of Iowa so abruptly. Amana Refrigeration founder George Foerstner suggested to the club, through Gazette sports editor Pat Harmon, that Tunnell would be a good addition. Tunnell had played for the Amana Freezers semi-pro team in 1947 that was managed by Hal Trosky.

The club asked Foerstner to call Tunnell and he did so - twice. Foerstner finally coaxed Tunnell back to Iowa.

"I didn't know if I'd be welcome back in Iowa," Tunnell told Harmon in a story published by The Gazette after the June 15 game. "Some folks out here gave me a hard time because I quit the university before my eligibility was used up. I got some letters from them last year when I was with the Giants, but they didn't sign any names."

Tunnell's agreement with the Rockets allowed him to leave in August to rejoin the Giants for the upcoming NFL season. Instead, he left after four days.

Tunnell was the first African American to play for the New York Giants. He appeared in nine pro bowls during his 14 seasons in the NFL playing safety for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. Tunnell was the first African American enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tunnell finished his Hall of Fame NFL career with 79 interceptions, an NFL record at the time, for 1,282 yards and four touchdowns. He had 2,217 yards in punt returns, including four touchdowns and 1,215 yards and a touchdown in kickoff returns. Tunnell also passed for 50 yards and rushed for 43 during his career.

Tunnell continued to be a part of the New York Giants organization following his playing career, first as a scout and later as the first African American assistant coach in the NFL.