Jackie Robinson

Negro League Stars

We take a look back at the stars of the Negro Leagues and their incredible achievements on and off the baseball diamond.

25 Best Baseball Players of All Time

Springtime means opening day of the Major League Baseball season—just thinking about it, you can practically smell the hot dogs and hear the crack of a bat as the crowd erupts in cheers. Baseball has been called America's favorite pastime, but it's worth remembering that the greatest baseball players of yesteryear used to be America's favorite popular heroes, too. In this gallery, we take a fond look at 25 of the most beloved top baseball stars of all time who are no longer with us, from Mickey Mantle to Ernie Banks and more.

Don Newcombe (1926–2019), former Dodgers great

Don Newcombe was a legendary pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers who was the first Black pitcher to start a World Series game during his rookie season in 1949, winning the Rookie of the Year award. Known for his rocket fastball, he helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1955 with a 20-5 record. His best year was 1956, when he won the NL MVP award, leading the league with 27 wins. He was selected to four all-star teams during his career.

Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day (video)

Jackie Robinson changed baseball when he stepped onto the field on April 15, 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The first Black player in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was under tremendous pressure to succeed—and succeed he did. His talent and ability as a ballplayer was undeniable and he maintained his composure in the face of racist taunts both on field and off. Before the end of the 1947, other African Americans would join him in the big leagues, including fellow future Hall of Famer Larry Doby.

Jackie Robinson's Firsts

Jackie Robinson was one of the greatest trailblazers in sports history. He’s well known for a certain iconic “first”—but his entry into Major League Baseball was just one of many things Robinson did before anyone else. As we celebrate Robinson by remembering all of his historic firsts, we’ll start with one very famous fact.

It Was Good to Be Roy Campanella

Roy Campanella wasn’t the first African American to play Major League Baseball—that honor, of course, went to . But catcher Campanella was hot on Robinson’s heels, blazing a trail on and off the diamond. On the , we look at a few of his amazing accomplishments.

Enos Slaughter, Controversial Cardinal

Right fielder Enos Slaughter, born on this day 95 years ago, is one of the more controversial players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. We take a look at his storied career and the questions surrounding it.