Atlanta-based program helps carry Jackie Robinson’s legacy forward
April 15 marks Jackie Robinson Day, honoring the day Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier 79 years ago. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Every year, players across the league wear Robinson’s iconic number 42, a tribute to the trailblazer who became the first Black player in modern MLB when he stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson, who was born in Cairo, Ga.
, paved the way for generations of athletes, including legends like Hank Aaron. Now, nearly eight decades later, there are signs his impact continues to grow. According to Major League Baseball, the percentage of Black players on Opening Day rosters in the league has increased for the second consecutive year.
It rose from 6. 0% in 2024 to 6. 2% in 2025, and now to 6.
8% in 2026. It marks the first back-to-back increases in about 20 years. For former Chicago Cubs player C.
J. Stewart, who grew up in the Atlanta area, that progress is meaningful. TRENDING STORIES: Crime Mob rapper accused in major electronics theft ring Recall alert: Xanax recalled nationwide Gwinnett middle schooler in custody after weapons detectors find gun in backpack “It’s more than just a game,” Stewart said.