""Every player of color who now enjoys our great sport, they owe it to this man," said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri."
""What he did was incredibly difficult under some of the most harsh circumstances you could ever imagine. He had to go out there and deal not only with the racial hatred but he was carrying 21 million Black folks on his back when he walked across those lines.""
""Had he failed, an entire race of people would have failed. That's an enormous amount of pressure. How he did it with such grace, class and dignity is absolutely incredible. And no, we should never forget Jackie Robinson.""
""A special day, especially for me as a Latino. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't because of him," said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza."
Major League Baseball commemorated Jackie Robinson on the 79th anniversary of his debut, with all players, coaches, and umpires wearing his No. 42. Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, winning Rookie of the Year and becoming a six-time All-Star. His journey began with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945, where he faced significant racial challenges. Bob Kendrick emphasized Robinson's immense pressure and the impact of his success on the Black community. The Dodgers and Mets gathered at Dodger Stadium to honor his legacy, highlighting his influence on players of color.
Read at ESPN.com
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