‘42 is my number’ – How Springboro’s Bella Miller is inspired by Jackie Robinson

The notification sent to her and others across the country ...

Sometimes it’s nice to have a prompt for how one book can change the viewpoint of your world. A phone notification popped up for Springboro senior Bella Miller early in the day on April 15. The message provided a reminder of the source for her strength she uses to tackle challenges presented on the softball field and everyday life.

The notification sent to her and others across the country told individuals it was “Jackie Robinson Day” across Major League Baseball. A day created in 2004 to celebrate a historical moment in the history of the United States. Robinson made his MLB debut on April 15, 1947, as the first player of color to participate in a big league game.

And 79 years later the trials and tribulations he endured on his path to becoming a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers have been storified in countless entertainment mediums. A book all about Robinson that Miller read in her youth — simply titled “Who Was Jackie Robinson? ” — unknowingly laid the groundwork for her of where she could look to when in any need of inspiration.