Jackie Robinson Day

[YankeeDoodle]

Among other things it is my sis' birthday, TAX DAY *ding ding*, and also the day that MLB officially commerates as Jackie Robinson Day, in honor of the event that transcends sports and in particular color barriers.

The Dodgers of course will have a big celebration, as will all the home teams. His number 42 is retired among all MLB teams.

Very cool!

MLB site (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050414&content_id=1015581&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)

[catman]

I like this. Jackie Robinson was a guy that had more pressure placed on him than anyone in the history of baseball. Baseball had been segregated for 60 years, give or take, when he was signed by Branch Rickey. His season in Montreal was a very, very good one for building respect among his teammates. He was unassuming and went about his business with class and dignity (plus he had a clause in his contract that required him to not retaliate to attacks). His stats were good and he received a great review from his manager, Clay Hopper (from Mississippi) who had not wanted to manage an integrated team.
His first years in the bigs were much worse. His teammates gave him a luke-warm reception at best. There were open hostilities displayed initially, but Mr. Rickey stopped them by offering to trade anyone who wished. He eventually won his teammates over with his steady play in the field and exciting play at bat and on the bases.
People say that his life may have been shortened to 53 years by this pressure, and I have to agree. No one in our lifetimes has had to face that much in his life.
My hat is off to this pioneer.

[themush]

Very brave thing Robinson did. Also give credit to Rickey, he stuck by his player.

[doublee]

Jackie Robinson is one of the greatest athletes in history. He became the first athlete in UCLA history to letter in four sports: Football, baseball, basketball, and track. He was an All-American halfback in football while leading the Bruins to its first unbeaten season in school history, led the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring for two years, and won a national championship in the long jump while breaking his older brother's national record. Suffice it to say baseball may have been his weakest sport and his bust currently resides in Cooperstown.