AP
Posted: 3:42 am
June 26, 2008
COOPERSTOWN - Nearly a half-century after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Jackie Robinson received a rare honor yesterday - a new plaque that pays tribute to the cultural impact he had on the game and the country as the first black player in the major leagues.
The new plaque adds "Jackie" under his full name, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, and the inscription is more detailed than the original: "A player of extraordinary ability renowned for his electrifying style of play. Over 10 seasons hit .311, scored more than 100 runs six times, named to six All-Star teams and led Brooklyn to six pennants and its only World Series title, in 1955. The 1947 Rookie of the Year, and the 1949 N.L. MVP when he hit a league-best .342 with 37 steals. Led second basemen in double plays four times and stole home 19 times."
The final sentence is a fitting epitaph for Robinson, who died in 1972 at age 53: "Displayed tremendous courage and poise in 1947 when he integrated the modern major leagues in the face of intense adversity."
On Robinson's original plaque, unveiled at his induction in 1962, there was no mention that he broke baseball's color barrier.
