42
Seventy-nine years ago Jackie Robinson made his debut appearance with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
He was an extraordinary baseball player. He was an exceptional athlete. He was an even better, more consequential person.
American hero
Image courtesy Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Robinson took the field in Brooklyn that April day in 1947 with indignities, triumphs, challenges, accomplishments, hardships, and glories ahead. That day began a 10-year career of distinction for him and his Dodgers teammates. His performance is among the most valuable events in American history. He is one of the 10 most important Americans. Ever.
“Seventy-nine years after Mr. Robinson saved the sport, changed the sport, and the same could be said of the country at large,” Steve Nelson said in his play-by-play call on KLAC as the Dodgers took the field in Los Angeles on Jackie Robinson Day.
Shohei Ohtani was on the mound Thursday night at Chavez Ravine. He wore number 42 in honor of Robinson — as was everyone on both teams and in all games — and a Dodger-blue cap with a Brooklyn B. It was startling and beautiful.
Rick Monday, color analyst on the Dodgers radio broadcast and a former Dodger himself, allowed listeners to see not only the game against the Mets but the game Brooklyn played against the Boston Braves nearly eight decades ago.
“He scored the winning run,” Monday said of Robinson’s debut. “He was oh-for-three as far as the bat. But as a human being, he hit a grand slam for society.”
The Dodgers of 2026 played a game worthy of the man honored throughout Major League Baseball on Thursday.
Start and end with Ohtani, pitching this game and not batting – his streak of reaching base stands at 48 and will extend beyond this game because he will not have a plate appearance. This year the otherworldly Ohtani is fully healthy as a pitcher for the first time in two seasons.
He started the game with more than 31 scoreless innings pitched. That ended in the third when the Mets MJ Melendez doubled with one out. Ohtani did get the W, putting his record at 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA on the year. His Dodgers are 14-4 and on a three-game win streak.
Robinson went on to be Rookie of the Year in 1947. He was MVP in 1949 and took the batting title. He was a seven-time All-Star. He and his Brooklyn teammates played in five World Series, all against the Yankees, and won it once, in 1955.
There were 26,623 people in the stands at Ebbets Field when he stepped in to the box as the second batter Braves ace Johnny Sain faced. It was the start of a remarkable year, a remarkable career, and a stellar life. It is impossible to imagine the ignorant hate he faced, the pressure on his shoulders, the unbelievable ability he had to concentrate and display his incredible talent.
MLB put together a nice resource on the web. If you have not been to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, plan a trip. See its great website. Buy merch.
Dodger lineage
Photo courtesy @Dodgers
There were 50,909 in the seats in Los Angeles Wednesday night when Ohtani went 6 innings of two-hit ball, striking out 10 Mets. Tomorrow he will continue his torrid hitting start to the season, on pace to again exceed 50 homers.
I am in awe of Jackie Robinson. I celebrate his role in making our country better.
His lesson is the power of excellence, the importance of understanding what is lost when we exclude people from contributing and competing. All of us are the lesser when any of us are denied a fair shake. All of us are obligated to oppose exclusion of anyone from the chance to prove the power of our abilities.
For all Robinson achieved and the changes his courage and ability brought, we all benefit immeasurably.
Ohtani stands for excellence. Robinson stood for excellence.
We saw it in Brooklyn in 1947. We saw it in LA in 2026.
Greatness is our reward. Ability is our measure of it. Jackie Robinson is my only hero.