Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
Florida A&M will honor the legacy of the man who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
The Rattlers baseball team will all wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson during their Friday game versus Mississippi Valley State, the school announced on social media.
On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first Black player in the modern major leagues and forever changing the sport. His debut is widely recognized each year as Jackie Robinson Day, a moment baseball uses to celebrate his impact on the game and on American history. Every major leaguer wears Robinson’s number to signify the famed player and his impact on the sport.
The university described the gesture as a way to honor Robinson’s life and legacy and recognize him “as a trailblazer” who opened doors for generations that followed.
In Robinson’s first season with the Dodgers, he went on to win Rookie of the Year before being named to six All-Star teams and capturing National League Most Valuable Player honors in 1949, all while cementing his place as one of baseball’s most influential figures.
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