Knights Honor Jackie Robinson’s Legacy

CHARLOTTE, NC —  71 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, and helped ignite a push for equal rights, athletes are still speaking out against the same injustice Robinson did so many years ago.

Tuesday night, the Charlotte Knights honored Robinson, and local players from the Negro Leagues.

“You name them, in terms of race, and they were yelled,” said Jackie Robinson, in a 1972 interview.  “Everything. It was quite vicious.”

Jackie Robinson broke into the big leagues, and broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

“My first paycheck was $2 in cash,” says Eddie Burton. “That was in 1947.”

Burton was a 17-year old kid, playing baseball for a living with the Harrisburg Giants in the Negro Leagues.

Eddie is one of four men honored by the Knights, on a night they also honored Robinson by wearing his number 42.

“He paved the way for a lot of good ball players who should have been playing,” says Burton, who lives across the street from BB&T Ballpark.

Jackie Robinson did more than just break down a barrier. He spoke out against racial injustices, like police brutality and the need for affordable housing. Something his daughter Sharon says more athletes should do.

“He was always trying to get athletes to come out and join him,” says Sharon. “So I think that’s why I’m very pro athletes being socially aware, socially conscious and speaking. You know having a voice.”

Some athletes are speaking up.

Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has protested police brutality toward people of color, tweeted out Jackie Robinson’s words on the national anthem, on the anniversary of his groundbreaking debut.

“These are tough times, and particularly frightening times for many of us,” says Sharon, a consultant for MLB. “And we feel like we’re losing some ground.”

“How black kids are being treated,” says Burton. “You know it’s a shame that it’s that way. But if we have to go through it again, we’ll go through it.”

Jackie Robinson played his entire 10-year career as a Brooklyn Dodger. His number 42 has been retired by every one of the 30 Major League Baseball teams.