April 19th 2024.
On April 15, we celebrated the remarkable legacy of Jackie Robinson, 77 years after he made history by becoming the first Black player to make his debut in Major League Baseball. And what better way to pay tribute to his groundbreaking achievements than by having Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson speak about the immense impact Robinson had on the sport.
As reported by MLB.com, Johnson, who also happens to be one of the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers, took the podium to share his thoughts on how Robinson blazed a trail for him and other Black athletes. For the past four years, the Dodgers have made it a tradition to gather at the Jackie Robinson statue in the center field plaza before every game on this special day, acknowledging and honoring the legendary MLB Hall of Famer.
Johnson expressed his gratitude towards Robinson, stating that he paved the way for him to become a part owner of the Dodgers. He couldn't help but mention how both Robinson and Muhammad Ali played pivotal roles in opening doors for him to achieve such a feat. He acknowledged the fact that without Robinson breaking the color barrier and playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he wouldn't have had this incredible opportunity. For Johnson, this day is not only special for the Robinson family, but also for the entire baseball community and the Dodgers organization.
This sentiment was echoed by Johnson on Twitter, where he shared a photo of himself standing next to Robinson's statue and wrote about his appreciation for Robinson's contributions to the sport. He ended his tweet with a powerful statement about being proud to be a part of an organization that has a history of promoting diversity and inclusion.
According to Sports Illustrated, Jackie Robinson Day was celebrated by all Major League teams on this day, with each player donning Robinson's iconic number 42 on their uniforms. This has been a tradition since 2004, when MLB officially declared April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day to honor his impact and legacy on the game.
MLB.com also reported that the Washington Nationals, who were the Dodgers' opponents on this day, also joined in on the tribute to Robinson. They, too, proudly wore the number 42 on their uniforms, paying homage to the man who paved the way for Black athletes in the world of baseball. It was a powerful and heartwarming display of respect and admiration for Robinson and his contributions to the sport.
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