The Early Years

Jackie Robinson was born on January 31st,1919. He already seemed destined for athletic greatness from his participation in various sporting teams throughout his childhood. As a guard on his high school basketball team, and again as the football team’s quarterback, Robinson varsity lettered. He also lettered as a track athlete, and in 1936 he won the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament. That same year he also earned a place on the Pomona All Star Baseball team, which also included baseball greats such as Bob Lemon and Ted Williams.

Robinson’s Time in Hawaii

By 1941, Robinson was slated to be an incredible football star through his playing for the semi-professional team, the Honolulu Bears. This racially integrated football team allowed him to play on the weekends and work as a construction worker throughout the week. After an exhibition game in Pearl Harbor and a very short season, Jackie headed back to the mainland just two days before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and took America into a world war.

A War Lieutenant

Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Robinson was drafted to the Army military service, eventually becoming a second lieutenant and being assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. While serving his country in 1944, Robinson was boarding an Army un-segregated bus line, and was told to move to the back of the bus because of his color. When Robinson refused to do so, he was court-martialed. This act was later rescinded, and turned into an honorable discharge, because Robinson was not disobeying any military duties.

A Move to Professional Baseball

Following his discharge, Jackie took a coaching job for a college basketball team during their 1944-1945 season. By the 1945 baseball season, Robinson had resigned from the coaching job, and started playing for the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs. The following year, he moved up to the minors – spring training with the Montreal Royals. One day in April, Robinson was called up to the Majors to play the 1947 season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

A Hero in Baseball is Born

Robinson became a baseball legend the day he debuted as the first black player in the Majors since 1880. On April 15th, 1947, Robinson stepped out onto Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators – including 14,000 Negros. During his first season as a Dodger, he played 151 games as their first baseman, with a batting average of .296 and scoring 125 runs. It was during this season that Robinson faced the most persecution for his color. He still managed to win the MLB Rookie of the Year Award.

A Baseball Champion

Jackie went on to play several more seasons for the Dodgers, getting named an MLB All-Star 6 years in a row (1949-1954). In his 1954 season, Robinson had his best game on June 17th, where he hit two home runs and two doubles. The next season, Jackie led the Dodgers to his only championship win in the World Series of 1955 against the New York Yankees. Robinson played his last game in the MLB, and for the Dodgers, on October 10th, 1956. This ended a career that had changed the face of baseball and removed segregation in professional sports.

A Leader On and Off the Field

Following his professional baseball career, Robinson was known as a leader in other endeavors. He was the first African American television analyst in the history of the MLB, as well as the first black Vice President of an American Corporation (Chock Full O’Nuts in 1957). He also was an entrepreneur, an author, and a community leader. Before his death (Oct 24th, 1972), Robinson was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1962) where he encouraged all those voting to consider only his field qualifications, rather than his significant cultural impact on the game. After his death, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and was inducted as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

An Icon in The Civil Rights Movement, the Game of Baseball and History

Jackie Robinson became an icon in the American Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stating him to be, “A legend and symbol in his own time… who challenged the dark skies of intolerance and frustration.” He changed the game of baseball by removing nearly 6 decades of segregation within the sport, and as Doris Kearns Goodwin put it, “His accomplishments allowed black and white Americans to be more respectful and open to one another and more appreciative of everyone’s abilities.” It is rare in our lifetimes to truly see greatness that changes the face of society and athletics. The story of Jackie Robinson broke down barriers, has stood the test of time, and still resonates with the sport, the nation, and the world.

The post Jackie Robinson: The Man, The Baseball Legend, The Icon appeared first on RIP-IT Blog.

Team-by-Team Information – National League

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks @Dbacks
Jack Magruder @JackMagruder (Arizona Diamondbacks beat writer for FOXSportsArizona.com)
Arizona Sports 620 @AZSports620

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves @Braves
FOX Sports South @FOXSportsSouth (FOX Sports South and SportSouth are the home of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks.)
Atlanta Braves Talk @bravestalk (Anything Atlanta Braves.)

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs @Cubs
Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat (Beat writer for MLB.com/Cubs.com, covering the Chicago Cubs. Author of Banks to Sandberg to Grace: 5 Decades of Love & Frustration with Chicago Cubs.)
Bruce Miles @BruceMiles2112 (Beat writer for the Daily Herald covering the Chicago Cubs.)

Cincinnati Reds

Reds @Reds
Cincinnati Reds Buzz @redsbuzztap (The latest news and buzz about the Cincinnati Reds with more sources, constant updates.)
John Fay @johnfayman (Beat reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer with a blog at cincinnati.com/blogs/reds.)

Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies @Rockies
Patrick Saunders @psaundersdp (Rockies beat writer The Denver Post.)
Troy Renck @TroyRenck (Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post since ’02, National Writer since ’06.)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers
Steve Dilbeck @stevedilbeck (Los Angeles Times Dodgers blogger; previously columnist L.A. Daily News.)
Dylan Hernandez @dylanohernandez (Dodgers beat writer for the LA Times.)

Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins @Marlins
Manny Navarro @Manny_Navarro (Miami Herald Sports Writer. Covers the Marlins, University of Miami, Dolphins, and Heat – all not necessarily in that order.)
Juan C. Rodriguez @JCRMarlinsbeat (Sun Sentinel’s Miami Marlins beat writer.)
 

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers @Brewers
Tom @Haudricourt (Brewers beat writer and general baseball scribe for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and jsonline.com.)
Todd Rosiak @Todd_Rosiak (Milwaukee Brewers beat writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

New York Mets

New York Mets @Mets
Mike Puma @NYPost_Mets (Real-time news and opinion from Mets beat writer Mike Puma of the New York Post.)
Michael Baron @michaelgbaron (Writer for MetsBlog.com. Tweets about the New York Mets, Major League Baseball, and photography.)
 

Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies @Phillies
Ryan Lawrence @ryanlawrence21 (Phillies beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News.)
Bob Ford @bobfordsports (Philadelphia sports columnist, sports writer on Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Flyers.)
 

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates
Rob Biertempfel @BiertempfelTrib (Pirates beat writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.)
Alan Robinson @arobinson_Trib (Steelers beat writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.)
 

San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres @Padres
Dan Hayes @DanHayesCSN (White Sox insider for CSNChicago.com.)
Corey Brock @FollowThePadres (Seventh season covering the Padres for MLB.com.)

San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants @SFGiants
John Shea @JohnSheaHey (National baseball writer/columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 26th year covering Giants, A’s, 31st year covering ball.)
Matt May @TCPMattMay (Beat writer/Columnist covering University of Kentucky athletics for CatsPause.com; Avid San Francisco Giants & Dallas Cowboys fan.)
 

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals @Cardinals
Derrick Goold @dgoold (Lead Cardinals beat writer for St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)
Joe Strauss @JoeStrauss (Sports Columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)
 

Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals @Nationals
Amanda Comak @acomak (Nationals beat writer for the Washington Times.)
Dan Kolko @masnKolko (Washington Nationals beat writer for MASNsports.com.)
 

The post Part 2: Follow the National League on Twitter this Season appeared first on RIP-IT Blog.

Check the blog next week for Twitter handles in the National League!

Team-by-Team Information – American League

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles @Orioles
Dan Connolly @danconnollysun (Baltimore Sun Orioles/national baseball writer.)
Eduardo A. Encina @EddieInTheYard (The Baltimore Sun’s Baltimore Orioles beat writer.)
 

Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox @whitesox
Mark Gonzales @MDGonzales (White Sox’s beat writer for the Chicago Tribune.)
Daryl Van Schouwen @CST_soxvan (White Sox beat writer for the Chicago Sun-Times.)

Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians @Indians
Paul Hoynes @hoynsie (Cleveland Indians Beat Writer for The Plain Dealer.)
Tom Withers @twithersAP (AP Sports Writer covering Cleveland Browns, Indians, Cavaliers, whatever else might be breaking.)

Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers @tigers
Tom Gage @Tom_Gage (Longtime baseball beat writer for the Detroit News.)
Chris Lott @Chris_Iott (Detroit Tigers beat writer for http://MLive.com.)

Houston Astros

Houston Astros @astros
Brian McTaggart @brianmctaggart (Astros beat writer since 2004 (since 2009 for http://MLB.com.)
Brian T. Smith @ChronAstros (Houston Astros beat writer for the Houston Chronicle.)
 

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals @Royals
Bob Dutton @Royals_Report (Royals beat writer for The Kansas City Star.)
Joel Goldberg @goldbergkc (Royals Live host on Fox Sports Kansas City.)
 

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels @Angels
Mike DiGiovanna @MikeDiGiovanna (Los Angeles Angels beat writer for Los Angeles Times.)
Eric Denton LAAI @LAANGELSINSIDER (LA Angels coverage from the locker room to the press-box and everywhere in between.)
 

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins @Twins
Mike Berardino @MikeBerardino (Minnesota Twins beat writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.)
AJ Mansour @AjKFAN (Lead Writer for KFAN.com & KFAN 100.3FM. Covering Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Wolves, Wild & Golden Gopher Athletics.)

New York Yankees

New York Yankees @Yankees
YANKEES 24/7 @yankeenews (All New York Yankees news, 24/7.)
YES Network @YESNetwork (Home of the 27-time World Series champion New York Yankees and the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.)
 

Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics @Athletics
Kevin Mendez @kjmendez3 (Staff Writer at SwinginAs.com and a Journalism Major at the SRJC.)
Alan @cuppingmaster (Oakland A’s/SJ Sharks fan in LA. Writer/mod at Athletics Nation. 90% baseball tweets.)
 

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners @Mariners
Ryan Divish @RyanDivish (Seattle Mariners beat writer the Tacoma News Tribune.)
710 ESPN Seattle @710ESPNSeattle (710 ESPN Seattle is the radio home of the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners & Washington State Cougars.)
 

Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays @RaysBaseball
Marc Topkin @TBTimes_Rays (Marc Topkin has covered the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly St. Petersburg Times) and tampabay.com since, well, forever.)
Joe Smith @TBTimesRays2 (Joe Smith has covered the Tampa Bay Rays since 2008.)
 

Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers @Rangers
TR Sullivan @Sullivan_Ranger (Baseball writer who graduated from the University of San Francisco and covers the Texas Rangers for MLB.com.)
Joakim Soria @joakimsoria (Official Twitter of the Texas Rangers.)
 

Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays-Official @BlueJays
Brendan Kennedy @BKennedyStar (Toronto Star sports reporter, covering baseball and the Blue Jays.)
 

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Learn more about our NOCSAE certified Vision Pro fastpitch helmet.

Video Transcription: Hey, this Jason with RIP-IT Sports and today’s Quick Tip is all about the NOCSAE stamp. If you’ve ever bought a helmet for softball, you will notice the back of the helmet typically has a manufacturer certifies meets NOCSAE standards. This means that this helmet has been rigorously tested, and passes all of the performance standards set by NOCSAE. You will also notice that in fastpitch, the face masks also have a NOCSAE seal of approval. This means that these face masks have also been regularly tested with this helmet and have passed the certification. So is you are looking for a helmet for softball, you should really make sure that both the helmet, and the face mask have a NOCSAE stamp. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get more Quick Tips.

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Learn more about our NOCSAE certified Vision baseball helmet.

Video Transcription: Hey, this is Jason with RIP-IT Sports, and today’s quick tip is all about the NOCSAE stamp. If you have ever bought a helmet before, you will notice on the back there is a stamp that says manufacturer certifies meets NOCSAE standard. This stamp means that this helmet has gone through rigorous testing, and it is now approved for use in leagues for baseball. So if you’re looking to buy a baseball helmet, make sure the helmet you buy has this stamp because if it doesn’t have this stamp, you probably won’t be able to use it in your league. Don’t forget also to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can get more Quick Tips.

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Click here to learn more about the RIP-IT Vision Pro.

Hi, my name is Carie Dever-Boaz, and my background is being a Division I coach for sixteen years, and the pro leagues for two years. I want to introduce you to the best helmet on the market, the Vision Pro. Starting from the outside, the number one thing if your hitters can’t see, then they can’t hit. It starts with the total vision; right through here we’ve taken this front guard and moved it back, and put it even with the bill - giving you complete vision to be able to see the ball. Moving over the top of the helmet, we have twenty-on air vents right here that allows for great ventilation. Also, it allows for a very light helmet. It is available in a variety of colors so you can choose from anything that you like. Even better, when you move into the inside of the helmet, we have a Blackout Technology on the inside of the mask. What that does is that it acts like eye-black and it makes this mask completely disappear. You have memory foam fitting that allows for a custom fit, so this helmet is going to fit everyone of your athletes. The best part about it is our "Love it or return it" policy. If you aren’t one hundred percent satisfied, and your batters don’t believe that this is the best vision they have ever had while they while trying to hit a pitch coming at them at sixty-five miles an hour, you can return it with no questions asked.

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