Jackie Robinson news stories on Newser

Years Ago, Trayvon's City Forced Out Jackie Robinson

John Johnson — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:50:30 CDT

The Trayvon Martin shooting has put a negative spotlight on Sanford, Florida, and Dave Zirin at the Nation points out that it's not the first time for the city. The quick version: In 1946, the mayor and outraged citizens wouldn't let the minor league Montreal Royals take the field because...

9 Big Names Who Went to Community College

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:41:06 CDT

President Obama recently called community colleges the "unsung heroes of America’s education system." Huffington Post rounds up nine notable community college attendees who prove his point: Arnold Schwarzenegger : Attended Santa Monica College before becoming the Terminator, and then the Governator. Tom Hanks : He transferred from Chabot College in California to...

Robinson, Now a 'GOP Hero,' Hated GOP

Kevin Spak — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:40:48 CDT

Whoops. The RNC’s new “GOP Heroes” website devotes a page to baseball legend Jackie Robinson, declaring him a “great Republican” who campaigned for Richard Nixon and Nelson Rockefeller. There’s just one problem: Robinson was a registered independent who professed he’d “never identified with one party or another,” and condemned the...

Jesse Jackson Jr.: Obama's Like Jackie Robinson

Nick McMaster — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:34:50 CDT

Barack Obama is like Jackie Robinson: he’s got to perform despite racist taunts, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the civil-rights leader, said during a Politico-sponsored panel discussion today ahead of the Democratic convention. Like the baseball pioneer, Obama “has to keep smiling,” in the face of vicious rumors “because...

Black Players Drop to 8.2 Percent of Major Leaguers

Doug Sweeney — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:29:38 CDT

Major League Baseball received its best grade for racial diversity in hiring, even as the percentage of black players dropped again last year. MLB received its first A- for race Tuesday from Richard Lapchick, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. Its grade...

Teams of 42s Honor Jackie

Jesse Andrews — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:45:52 CDT

Players and coaches across the majors honored Jackie Robinson by donning number 42 on the 60th anniversary of the day Robinson broke the color barrier with his debut as a Brooklyn Dodger. The league officially honored Robinson at Dodger Stadium—a serendipitous choice, as five other potential venues were rained...