Bill > J00799

This resolution recognizes April 15, 2025, as Jackie Robinson Day in New York State, honoring the groundbreaking baseball player who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947, when he became the first African American to play in the modern era with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The resolution highlights Robinson's remarkable life achievements, including his outstanding collegiate athletic career at UCLA, his military service during World War II, his professional baseball accomplishments (such as being named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and National League MVP in 1949), and his post-baseball contributions to civil rights and community development. The document emphasizes Robinson's significant impact not only on baseball but on American society, noting his quiet dignity in confronting racial discrimination, his role in integrating professional sports, and his later work in business and social activism, such as co-founding the Freedom National Bank of Harlem and the Jackie Robinson Construction Company. The resolution also references Major League Baseball's ongoing tribute to Robinson, including the universal retirement of his jersey number 42 in 1997 and the league-wide practice of players wearing number 42 on April 15 each year to commemorate his historic achievements.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/J799