The Man Who Knew No Barriers

What’s the difference between Cool Papa Bell and Willie Mays; or perhaps, Josh Gibson and Hank Aaron. The answer is the man who knew no barriers, Jackie Robinson.

Bell and Gibson are two of the most talented players to ever step foot on a baseball field. Their abilities were monumental and their talent, immense. Bell, known as the fastest man in baseball, debuted in 1922. Gibson, referred to as the “black Babe Ruth”, began his career in 1930.

Chances are we don’t need to explain the significance of Mays and Aaron. These names often come up in debates of the best baseball player of all time. Hammerin’ Hank and the “Say Hey Kid” will always be remembered not only as great black players, but just great players.

The bridge between this quartet of elite talent was the Major League debut of Jack Roosevelt Robinson in 1947. After playing a season of baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey sought out Robinson to join his team. Rickey could tell this was a man who knew no barriers. A Hall of Famer, Robinson may not have been the most talented player in the Negro Leagues at the time, but he was the right man for the job.  In fact, he might have been the only man for the job. He broke down the doors of segregation. A journey sure to be filled with hateful slurs, Robinson let his play do the talking.

Jackie Robinson had the will power to stick as the first black player in Major League Baseball. He not only lasted through his rookie season, he was named Rookie of the Year. Two years later, Robinson won the Most Valuable Player award while hitting .342 for the Dodgers.

Bell and Gibson could have accomplished big league greatness; they just came a generation too soon. While things weren’t easy for the likes of Aaron and Mays, without Robinson, there would be no Aaron and Mays. The acts of Jackie Robinson gave players like Aaron and Mays an opportunity, and they took advantage. Who knows? Without a man like Robinson, the game may have never known legends like Reggie Jackson, Ozzie Smith, or Ken Griffey Jr. These are generational heroes who played a game they loved because they could. They could, because of Jackie Robinson.

There’s a reason no player in Major League Baseball will ever wear the number “42” again. There’s a reason Hollywood is releasing “42” the movie. This is an American hero whose greatness as a man dwarfs his greatness as a player. This was a man who took America’s pastime; and opened the door for America’s present time.