5 Quotes from Jackie Robinson (#115)

74 years ago today, Jackie Robinson became the first black baseball player in Major League Baseball when he trotted out to first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Throughout the 1947 season Robinson endured threats, ostracization, and heckling, yet he persevered. In spite of the adversity, he had a .297 batting average and led the league in stolen bases with 29, as well as sacrifice hits with 28. He was also selected as the Rookie of the Year. Robinson had an incredible career — he went on to play another nine seasons, posting a lifetime .311 batting average, was selected as the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1949, and helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Major League Baseball continues to commemorate Jackie’s ground breaking event by having every major league baseball player wear the number 42 today in his honor. You can see everything that MLB is doing to honor Robinson here. If you are unfamiliar with Jackie Robinson and his story, a great place to start is by watching the movie 42, starring Chadwick Boseman.

Here are five quotes from Jackie Robinson to inspire you today:

• "Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life."

• "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

• "I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect."

• “Above anything else, I hate to lose.”

• “How you played in yesterday’s game is all that counts”

Go on the offense, utilize Jackie Robinson’s example and quotes to energize your team, and break down barriers.