Today marks the 15th season that Major League baseball has honored the late and great Jackie Robinson.
April 15th, known as tax day to everyone in the USA, is also a special day in baseball history as it is the day that Jackie Robinson made his major league debut and became the first black to ever play major league baseball in modern-day era.
Robinson’s courageous feat changed the game as we know forever and gave so many minorities after him the opportunity to not only play the game but have major roles in our national pastime.
I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being. ~ Jackie Robinson
As has been done or the past 15 seasons, all players, managers, and umpires will wear the #42 to honor the Hall of Famer and many ballparks will commemorate the day.
The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles got the festivities started early 11:06 start today.
Robinson, a career Brooklyn Dodgers player, might have started on April 15th, but his first major league hit came on April 17th when he singled to officially put his name in major league baseball lore.
He would go on to finish the season batting .297, with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and 29 stolen bases, and take home the Rookie of the Year honors.
Robinson, a Georgia native, was a career .311 hitter, and totaled 273 doubles, 54 triples, 137 home runs, 734 RBIs , 197 stolen bases, winning the MVP in 1949, a World Series champion in 1955, while only playing in ten seasons.
His career started when he was 28, but it was those ten seasons that were the most important in baseball, because through all the adversity and hatred that he faced, Robinson stayed the course and played the game the way it was meant to be played.
Not many people today, could deal with all the scrutiny that came his way, and that is why his legacy will live on for generations to come.
The game of baseball, the fans and everyone involved in the game will celebrate today with great pride a true legend of our National Pastime and hopefully future generations will continue to appreciate and be thankful for what he did for everyone world-wide.
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