"A life is not important except in the
impact it has on other lives."
-Jackie Robinson
Baseball
#42
Brooklyn Dodgers
Jackie Robinson was the first African American player in Major League Baseball (MLB), breaking the color barrier on April 15,1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Jan. 31, 1919 - Oct. 24, 1972
(Aged 53)
"it was as important for a colored player to break into pro football as it was in baseball."
-Kenny Washington
Football
#13 & #39
Los Angeles Rams
Kenny Washington reintegrated the National Football League (NFL) on March 21, 1946 with the Los Angeles Ram. Kenny was the first African American player since Fritz Pollard back in 1919.
Aug. 31, 1918 - June 24, 1971
(Aged 52)
"When you're a star and you're making money, you've got to give back. And not just with your money, but with your time."
-Bobby Mitchell
Football
#49
Cleveland Browns &
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins were the last team in the NFL to integrate. Bobby Mitchell broke this barrier in 1962, when he became the first African American to sign with the Washington Redskins.
June 6, 1935 - Apr. 5, 2020
(Aged 84)
"What I can tell them is the way you become an Olympic champion is to start working now. I tell them why it's always worth it to put the time and effort into something you want to be good at."
-Rafer Johnson
Track & Field
Olympic Decathlete
Rafer Johnson was a decathlete for the United States (U.S.) Olympic team, he was the first African American flag bearer for the U.S. this barrier was broken in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. In 1960 Rafer won the James E. Sullivan Award as the “top amateur athlete in the United States” he broke this award’s color barrier by being the first African American to receive this award. Rafer won gold in the 1955 Pan American Games, silver in the 1956 Olympic Games. Rafer finished his athletic career by winning gold in the 1960 Olympic Games. He helped found the California Special Olympics in 1969 and he was an original member of the Board of Directors. Rafer later became the President of the California Special Olympics until 1992 when he became a Chairman of the Board of Governors.
Aug. 18, 1934 - Dec. 2, 2020
(Aged 86)
"One kid said to me, he said, Mr. Lloyd, we really owe you. And I explained to him, man, you owe me absolutely nothing. I said, whatever kind of career I had, it has served me well, but you do owe some people. And the people you owe are the folks who are going to come behind you. It's incumbent upon each watch — when you play your 10, 11 years and you're in your group — when you leave, I truly hope that you've done all you can possibly do to leave it a better place for the folks who come behind you."
-Earl Lloyd
Basketball
#11, #8, & #17
Washington Capitols,
Syracuse Nationals,
& Detroit Pistons
Earl Lloyd was the first African American to break the National Basketball Association (NBA) color barrier on October 31, 1950 with the Syracuse Nationals.
Apr. 3, 1928 - Feb. 26, 2015
(Aged 86)
“I know I could never forgive myself
if I elected to live without human purpose," he said, "without trying to help the poor and unfortunate, without recognizing that perhaps the purest joy in life comes with trying to help others."
-Arthur Ashe
Tennis
Singles: Career Record, 1188-371
Singles: Career Titles, 76
Doubles: Career Record, 323-176
Doubles: Career Titles, 18
Arthur Ashe, is the only African American man to win single titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.
Jul. 10, 1943 - Feb. 6, 1993
(Aged 49)
"It was evident in my first year at Akron back in 1919, that they didn’t want blacks in there getting that money. And here I was, playing and coaching and pulling down the highest salary in pro football.”
-Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard
Football
#1 & #11
Akron Pros
Fritz Pollard was the first African American, to play in the NFL with the Akron Pros and he was the first African American Coach in the NFL, he coached the Akron Pros.
Jan. 27, 1894 - May 11, 1986
(Aged 95)
"Working with these kids today and being able to just help them set goals for themselves and work with them towards their goals is a great thing.
I think sometimes it’s better than breaking the color barrier.”
-Willie O'Ree
Hockey
#22
Boston Bruins
Willie O'Ree was the first African American to break the National Hockey League (NHL) color barrier on January 18, 1958 with the Boston Bruins.
Since January 1998 Willie O'Ree is the NHL's Diversity Ambassador for the organization's initiative Hockey is for Everyone.
Oct. 15, 1935 - Present
(Age 86)
