Today is Jackie Robinson Day in MLB: every April 15, the league honors and celebrates the career of the man who broke the color barrier back in 1947.
On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his MLB debut in a hostile, racist society that still wasn’t ready to embrace the idea of a black man starring among the greats in a game that was predominantly white.
But he fought through anger, humiliation, insults, and all kinds of obstacles to make history and pave the way for Negro League stars to play in MLB, as they should have done since the beginning.
Robinson has roots in the state of New York, as he played his entire Major League career with the Brooklyn Dodgers before they relocated to Los Angeles.
That’s why people in New York hold him in high regard, perhaps more than any other place in the country.
The League And New York City Are Proud To Honor Robinson
The city of New York, together with MLB, decided to honor Jackie in a special, unique way: with a street.
“42nd and Broadway is Jackie Robinson Way! #Jackie42,” MLB Network tweeted on Friday.
42nd and Broadway is Jackie Robinson Way! #Jackie42 pic.twitter.com/YRhbYTAyPQ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 15, 2022
New York City Metropolitan Area Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development
“I’m excited to announce that, in partnership with MLB, the city of New York is very honored to temporarily rename 42nd and Broadway Jackie Robinson Way,” she said.
The sign has Jackie Robinson’s name, his signature, and a picture of himself swinging a bat with the league’s logo and the message, “75 years.”
Today is the 75th anniversary of his big league debut.
Robinson deserves every honor, every plaque, every street, every corner, and every sign of admiration he gets: it’s because of him that Black players can be a part of the best baseball league in the world.
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