Jack ‘Jackie’ Robinson
JACKIE Robinson, on April 15, 1947, became the first man of African-American descent to play Major League Baseball. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
This was a period of great racial prejudice and his accomplishment went a long way in inspiring and contributing to civil rights movements in that time.
He played in six World Series and was the national league’s MVP in 1949. His uniform number, 42, was officially retired from all major league competitions, making Robinson the first athlete to be so honoured.
He was also the first black TV analyst in Major League Baseball. Jackie was also very instrumental in the establishment of the Freedom National Bank, which is an African-American-owned bank based in Harlem.
Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated on April 15 of each year in the US since 2004. On this day, all professional players wear a #42 shirt.
