Today is a day we should all be enjoying baseball played in honor of Jackie Robinson.
He was an all-star each year (and in ‘53).
He had a 14.7 WAR despite not having a regular position.
But that’sjusthis well known baseball career.
What most people don’t realize is that Robinson was also a professional football player.
While at UCLA Robinson lettered in 4 sports.Think about that.
This wasn’t your D3 high school where you lettered in a fall and spring sport.
This was UCLA, when those letters meant something.
He was the first athlete in history (black or white) to ever accomplish this.
(He also played tennis winning state championship throughout high school but only for fun while at UCLA.)
While in school he excelled on the diamond but struggled at the plate.
On the football field he dominated on both sides of the ball.
Watch these videos and keep an eye on #28:
He could juke, AND lay the lumber.
The man was a four-sport star athlete for the school and he wasn’t on scholarship!
They let him leave!
Only after serving his country, did Robinson decide to pickup a glove and give baseball a shot again.
(Can you imagine if this happened today?)
The same Olympic Games Jesse Owens made famous for shoving it up Hitler’s ass in his own backyard.
- As mentioned above Robinson won a National Champion in Long Jump in 1940.
That same year he was ranked fourth in the world with a jump of 25 feet.
He had three of the top seven jumps in the world at the time.
In 1939 and 1940 Robinson led the NCAA in punt return average for football.
In 1940 and 1941 Robinson led the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring for basketball.
While stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas Robinson befriended fellow recruit and World Boxing Champion Joe Louis.
They remained close friends for life.
In 1946 Robinson reached base successfully on 42 of 46 bunts.
He was standing in center field for Bobby Thompson’s “shot heard round the world.”
Rest In Peace to one of the greatest men to ever live.
