He was perhaps best known for breaking Major League Baseball 's color barrier by signing African American player Jackie Robinson , for drafting the first Afro-Hispanic superstar , Roberto Clemente , for creating the framework for the modern minor league farm system , for encouraging the Major Leagues to add new teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League , and for introducing the batting helmet .
He was best known for breaking Major League Baseball 's color barrier by signing African American player Jackie Robinson , for drafting the first Afro-Hispanic superstar , Roberto Clemente , for creating the framework for the modern minor league farm system , for encouraging the Major Leagues to add new teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League , and for introducing the batting helmet .