Lew Paper has written a terrific book about Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
He writes a chapter on each player who played in that historic game between The Yankees and Dodgers.
In the chapter on Jackie Robinson, he writes of the heroic character that stood tall against the rampant racism that he endured playing his was into the major leagues and opening the doors for those great players who followed him.
How great a player was he?
Jackie stole home base nineteen times in his career. The pitcher would begin his wind up and like lighting, Jackie would beat the pitch to home and score. I can’t be certain, but would hazard a guess that if you collected all of the stats for the thirty major league teams and tallied how many times any player has stolen home in the last five years, it wouldn’t come close to Robinson’s feat.
Anyone who saw him play was mesmerized by his daring play that scared other teams into panic mode.
How great is the respect for this legendary man?
The number 42 has been retired by every team.
The only time it is worn is on Jackie Robinson Day…April 15. All players, coaches, managers, and bat boys and girls on each team wear it that day to honor Mr. Robinson and his breaking of the color barrier in baseball.
He accomplished this on April 15, 1947.
Surely Ali, Jordan, Jim Brown, and Bill Russell know and knew who The Man was.
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