He played his first major league game on April 15, 1947, and received death threats before the season started. Branch Rickey had told him he needed to absorb abuse without responding for three years. Robinson agreed. His first season he batted .297, led the league in stolen bases, and won Rookie of the Year. He won the batting title in 1949. He became the first Black player in the Hall of Fame in 1962. His number, 42, was retired across all of baseball in 1997.
January 31, 1919
107 years ago
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