Jackie Robinson Day

April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day in major league baseball, and all players wear the number 42 on their uniforms in his honor. He was the first African-American player in the major leagues when the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him in 1947 after baseball was segregated from 1889 to 1947. It wasn't easy for him. Not only did baseball fans and members of opposing teams not accept him, some of his own teammates didn't accept him. He paved the way for other African-American players, enduring hate mail and threats, and it was years before all of professional baseball was desegregated. African-American players often had to stay in different hotels than Caucasian players and enter restaurants through back doors. As late as 1974, Hank Aaron received threats on his life when he was close to breaking Babe Ruth's record, and extra security was required at the ballparks as he got closer and finally broke the record. Jackie Robinson's bravery is fittingly celebrated annually now, and his number has been retired on all major league teams.