Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB color barrier, would have been 100 Thursday

One hundred years ago Thursday, the person who would break baseball’s racial barriers was born.

Jackie Robinson, who integrated the MLB, would’ve been 100 years old. He died at age 53 in 1972.

On April 10, 1947, Robinson signed a major league contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African American to play since Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884.

Robinson was named Rookie of the Year after hitting .297 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI and a league-high 29 stolen bases. He would go on to win the 1949 MVP, make six All-Star games and appear in six World Series.

He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1962.

Robinson’s number was retired throughout the league in 1997, meaning nobody could wear No. 42 again except for players who were currently wearing it. The final player to ever wear his number in the MLB, Mariano Rivera, just became the first player to be unanimously elected into the Hall of Fame.

Now, the only time players wear No. 42 is April 15 each year, when the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.

In New York, the Museum of the City of New York unveiled an exhibit Thursday called “In the Dugout with Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait of a Baseball Legend,” according to the Associated Press. It will be open until Sept. 15.

Trailblazer. Icon. Hero.

Today — and every day — we celebrate Jackie Robinson on what would’ve been his 100th birthday. Thank you, Jackie. #Jackie42 pic.twitter.com/hZVV4GdHcX

— MLB (@MLB) January 31, 2019

The reason why I wear 24 today. One of the greatest in the game, on and off the field. #JackieRobinson #JR100 pic.twitter.com/nFvbdNA1qz

— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) January 31, 2019

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” #JackieRobinson #JR100 pic.twitter.com/ZnkkEy6ETE

— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) January 31, 2019

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