Opening Day at the Jackie Robinson Museum

When it comes to sports, Baseball was my first love.  Where I grew up, in Warren, Ohio, the first league I remember playing in was for seven to 10-year-olds.  When I was six, my mom went to sign up my brother, who was old enough to play with the 11-year-olds.  She told me that I cried so much at the signup, they felt sorry for me and agreed to put me on a team.  There I was, way too small, only being able to play second base or rover in a league full of giants – and I enjoyed every minute of it!

For the next eight years, I played baseball almost every summer. While playing the game, it was natural for me to want to know more about the game and to have those “major league dreams.” Not many blacks in my community played baseball, so I gained my inspiration from athletes I would see on TV. During Black History Month, I’d see stories about great black baseball players – and that would always include the story of Jackie Robinson and his breaking of baseball’s color barrier.

Once I started full time work, I looked for opportunities to give back to causes that had helped shape my childhood.  Spending summers at the Boys and Girls club in Opelika, Alabama led to serving on the board of the oldest Boys and Girls Club in Seattle.  When it was time for me to relocate, I wanted to continue serving. I’d developed a relationship with one of the senior leaders, and he had been tapped to lead my company’s relationship with the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF).  It took one conversation for him to ask me about helping out.  Being able to combine my childhood passion of baseball with my adulthood passion of giving back was a no brainer!

From my first time attending a JRF event, I was blown away at the talent and tenacity of the scholars that the foundation supports.  They come from all walks of life, and attend the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.  They are active in their communities and have aspirations to not only grow into the leaders of tomorrow, but to be lead today.

Early in 2022, I learned that the Jackie Robinson Museum was nearing its opening day.  I knew we had to attend.  And after a little negotiation, we were set to be one of the sponsors of the museum’s opening day.  And I was going to have the pleasure of leading our team and introducing a few of my coworkers to the foundation and the museum.

On my way to check in to the Ribbon cutting, I was passed by Roland Martin (host of the Roland Martin Unfiltered show).  Then I ran into tennis legend Billie Jean King in a media scrum.  As I made my way outside, I was hit with the gravity of being at the same event as film director Spike Lee, news host Robin Roberts, former Attorney General Eric Holder and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.  Truly a start studded event worthy of a great American and a great family.

After the Ribbon Cutting, I had my first chance to enter the museum.  It was awe-inspiring to see Jackie’s early life.  To see how he grew up and how his life fit within the larger context of the struggle for black equality in America.  Another part of the museum included more information about Jackie’s athletic accomplishments.  Although he is known for baseball, Jackie was a multi-sport star.  It was so cool to see Jackie playing golf, football, basketball and running track.  There seemed to be no sport that he could not master.

Being a small part of this moment in history brought back so many memories from my childhood.  Touring the museum, I had many moments to reflect.  Jackie’s greatness was an inspiration to so many young, black ball players – myself included.  His influence of breaking down barriers has led me to want to tackle those barriers in my own life.  Even though I’m no longer playing baseball, Jackie remains an inspiration to me.  And I’m grateful, that I get to support his legacy and all those that are being helped by the foundation.

For more info on the Jackie Robinson Museum, check out https://www.jackierobinsonmuseum.org.