“Spread love. It’s the Brooklyn way.”

On this date in 1947, Jackie Robinson changed history forever by doing what he loved; playing baseball. Not only did Mr. Robinson break the color barrier that plagued “America’s Pastime” but he began a domino effect that would expand nationwide from professional sports to the military. Surely a tough feat, but with the help of his wife, he did it with ease. In turn, the day that Jackie walked onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York to face the Boston Braves in the season-opener will forever be celebrated in all of baseball as Jackie Robinson Day.

In a statement to CBS Sports, Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson went on to say, “I am quite proud that when Jack stepped onto the field on April 15, 1947, and broke the color barrier in baseball, he helped to further social change in America. On behalf of our family and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, we are thrilled that Major League Baseball continues to honor him and works to ensure that what he stood for will not be forgotten by future generations.”

-Jamaal Fisher (@jamaalfisher)