When it comes to breaking down barriers, nobody touches Jackie Robinson. Number 42 joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, well before the Supreme Court overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that had allowed segregation in the United States. Breaking the color barrier in baseball was a particularly daunting task, as “America’s pastime” was one of the country’s most beloved sports, and part of that appeal was the perceived “pureness” of the game. That’s what makes Robinson so important: He took on an incredible challenge in perhaps the toughest setting to do so, and he not only succeeded– he excelled.
There is no one quite like Jackie Robison for America’s other favorite sports, for a number of reasons. But it still took great courage and conviction to be the first black player in the NBA, NFL, NHL, the PGA and even NASCAR. Let’s look back and remember these individuals on Jackie Robinson Day.