Jackie Robinson's Birthday

With baseball now celebrating the date of Jackie Robinson's major league debut (April 15th) as an in-season holiday, a lot less attention is paid to the birthday of this iconic player and great American. It's January 31st -- since it didn't fall during the season, broadcasters never had the occasion to mention during a game, the way they might for a Derek Jeter (June 26th), Yogi Berra (May 12th) or countless other stars. But Jackie's legacy stands tall -- especially at Citi Field in New York, whose entrance rotunda honors him.
Of the many pictures displayed at Citi, the one below is my favorite -- it conveys the spirit and unity of the Boys of Summer Dodger teams of the 1950s.
Jackie isn't the only Hall of Famer with a January 31st birthday -- he shares it with fireballiong Nolan Ryan and the late Mister Cub Ernie Banks. That's a trifecta!

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