Jackie Robinson's Impact on Sports & Legacy Left on Baseball
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/6/8/14681990/4586459.jpg)
Often people overlook the impact of Jackie Robinson for the entire sports world, and focus more on the change of America's greatest pastime, baseball. If it were not for the play and commitment of Jackie Robinson it would have been harder for the African Americans in all the major sports in the United States to be noticed for their works. Jackie opened the doors for kids, teenagers, and adults to pursue careers in the athletic fields all around the world.
Jackie Robinson had an absolutely enormous impact on modern day baseball. Besides breaking the color barrier, Jackie paved the way for other African American legends in Major League Baseball. Players like Roy Campanella, Ernie Banks, and Larry Doby would never have made a Major League appearance if it wasn’t for Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Just think for a second. The outstanding catch by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series would never have happened. Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time homerun record would have never happened. Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, never would have been able to earn that nickname. The All Stars that we know today like Robinson Cano, David Ortiz, Matt Kemp, and Justin Upton would never have been able to play Major League Baseball. We sometimes underrate the feat that Jackie Robinson accomplished by breaking the color barrier, but there’s no doubt that it should not go without being recognized.
Today, we recognize Jackie Robinson’s impact by celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, which occurs every year on April 15th. Every player, no matter their team, skill, or race, wears the number 42 on their back to remember what Robinson did for baseball and the rest of the world. In fact, the number 42 is retired in all of Major League Baseball, making it impossible for anyone to wear that number ever again (the one exception is Mariano Rivera, the closer for the New York Yankees, who had the number when it was permanently retired by baseball. He will retire at the end of the 2013 season, so there will be no remaining players allowed to wear the number 42). There are often videos around baseball by players to express their gratitude to Jackie Robinson and the way he opened the door for their dreams. Robinson will be forever remembered by not only baseball fans, but just about every sports fan there is for facing the fire and getting through it.
Jackie Robinson had an absolutely enormous impact on modern day baseball. Besides breaking the color barrier, Jackie paved the way for other African American legends in Major League Baseball. Players like Roy Campanella, Ernie Banks, and Larry Doby would never have made a Major League appearance if it wasn’t for Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Just think for a second. The outstanding catch by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series would never have happened. Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time homerun record would have never happened. Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, never would have been able to earn that nickname. The All Stars that we know today like Robinson Cano, David Ortiz, Matt Kemp, and Justin Upton would never have been able to play Major League Baseball. We sometimes underrate the feat that Jackie Robinson accomplished by breaking the color barrier, but there’s no doubt that it should not go without being recognized.
Today, we recognize Jackie Robinson’s impact by celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, which occurs every year on April 15th. Every player, no matter their team, skill, or race, wears the number 42 on their back to remember what Robinson did for baseball and the rest of the world. In fact, the number 42 is retired in all of Major League Baseball, making it impossible for anyone to wear that number ever again (the one exception is Mariano Rivera, the closer for the New York Yankees, who had the number when it was permanently retired by baseball. He will retire at the end of the 2013 season, so there will be no remaining players allowed to wear the number 42). There are often videos around baseball by players to express their gratitude to Jackie Robinson and the way he opened the door for their dreams. Robinson will be forever remembered by not only baseball fans, but just about every sports fan there is for facing the fire and getting through it.
"Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical."
-Yogi Berra