Word around says "JR wasn't among the top five, maybe ten, talented players in the Negro Leagues. How good were the 10 ahead of Jackie? We will never know!

Branch Rickey chose well. Robinson lasted when many would have quit

It was a big deal, for sure, but it became a cosmic happening because the media made it so. In my view it pales in comparison to the single most significant event in race relations up to that time: the integration of the races in the US military. One Black American that served his country in uniform during that time is worth ten Jackie Robinsons to me. I love baseball, but let's not turn the Jackie Robinson saga into a world-shattering event. Some of the reviewers seem to be trying to out-pander each other. Get a grip! Jackie was a good player, but he warn't no Ty Cobb.

The previous post by EO, was a very thoughtful and thought provoking post and I don't disagree with much of it. I do enjoy baseball but don't have the keen insight that some of other RIA reviewers but I would have had to be living on the moon not to know the Jackie Robinson story.

I don't think it was race alone that made Robinson special. Other players, white, Hispanic Asian or any other group, all have their heroes and great players and they have all faced their own adversities. But what makes Robinson's story all the more poignant and ironic is that he rose above an adversity that most of us could not comprehend let alone live through. He was celebrated as someone that was descended from slavery and succeeded. Some blacks were still being hung in the south. The Jim Crow law was still in effect. He could not stay in the same hotel as his team mates and if he did he certainly could not walk through the front door. Same thing in restaurants. He could not eat a simple meal with his team mates. Many of those same team mates would not, at least, initially, eat with him.

With the exception of Hank Aaron can't think of too many other players that have played baseball under the stress of death threats. I'm sure there is so much that the rest of us will never know. Most men would have broken under the shame and humiliation of such hate. Robinson not only survived and thrived but he rose above it all to become one of baseball's great legends and one of America's proudest citizen. How can we not celebrate that? Why should he not be recognized as a great American and a great African American success story. To do otherwise diminishes his accomplishments, and attempts to deny what really took place in this country.

Though things have certainly changed for blacks, including Barack Obama being elected as the first American president, it's hard to deny that blacks have suffered in horrific ways throughout the history of our great country. I think Robinson is deserving of all his honors. Overall, It is a very, very small token of appreciation.

Not the most memorable event, but historically significant both in the game and in the country. Robinson had the talent to play and the mental toughness to survive and Rickey made good judgments about that aspect and his likely success. And for such a breakthrough to happen in Brooklyn was also quite significant as Brooklyn was the 4th largest city in the US at the time, so Robinson was provided an enormous stage for his talents.

The cruelty of moving the team from Brooklyn shortly thereafter is a bit hard to ignore and some elderly New Yorkers still harbor some bitterness toward the Dodgers for abandoning them unexpectedly, in the wake of their fairly universal acceptance of the Robinson drama, and their first World Championship.

Robinson's abilities are well chronicled and the general talent level ascended as black players proliferated throughout both leagues. But, racism begets racism. To recognize it as a world-changing this event and to ignore the first hispanic player is wrong. Has not the talent bar been raised there? Did not the Curt Flood lawsuit change baseball and set into motion today's incredible compensation levels, also raising the talent level? Was it not nearly as significant when the first Japanese player played in the Major Leagues but we don't retire HIS number, on ALL MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS!!

Was Robinson a better player than Musial, Aaron, Williams, Ruth, Cobb, Walter Johnson, Cy Young? Why not retire all their numbers? Because, except for Aaron, they're not black? The guy was a great player, worthy of the Hall of Fame. Baseball should be above the racist politics so popular, lucrative and effective today. Blacks and sympathetic fans of all races should honor him for his racial differentiation and his courage. But, he's not the only courageous ballplayer. Baseball should be neutral on his status other than to honor his accomplishments on the field. To do more is political, distracting and wrong. He was a player. A great player. To baseball, he should not be greater because he was black, even the first black, unless they acknowledge other ethnicities.

Holy shit, a Negro in the majors! What'll that Obama Bin Laden think of next? Alert the Cap Ansons of Rate it All at once!

An immensely important event, and I speak from a baseball, not a political perspective. The breaking of the colour bar opened the door to the mass infusion of talent from black players. This raised the average skill level in both leagues dramatically within five years, and made the fifties and sixties arguably the greatest decades for overall baseball talent. Its interesting that this is one of the times that baseball was ahead of the society it entertained.

Would anyone write:

Shorty Dribbler becomes the last white to play in major league basketball in 2017 in Basketball's Most Memorable Moment?

Hell no! We'd say, "white person" or maybe "white player".

Should have happened long, long before.

This would rate #1 if the question was The most important occurance Its hard to compare an exciting moment ie. Kirk Gibsons HR, to an historical moment like this. I think thats why this is rated so low.

He was the first African-American in the 20th century. That was a great, memorable moment. Mr. Robinson sacrificed all the taunts from fans, opposing teams and even his own team. He kept his composure and played the game the way it should be played. A class act he was.

Very important and it was my team the Dodgers, although way before I was born.

I am really surprised why this transcendent event in baseball is ranked so lowly by fans. If anything, Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier is nothing short of a great, defining moment in our nation's history. Yes, all these other events on the lists are important, but without the courage of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey, baseball would have continued for sometime with its former Neanderthalic, knuckle-dragging approach to race. Thank God for Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson's breaking into the major leagues was probably the most transcendent moment in baseball history.

A strong, talented, durable player. It's a shame he's remembered today mainly because of his skin color. It seems that in America, everything eventually becomes political. Who cares whether he was the first black player? Can't we just admire him for the great sportsman that he was?

This was a huge deal, and one of baseball's shining moments. In 1947 (seven years prior to Brown Vs. The Board of Education), 85% of Americans were against the integration of baseball as were 15 out of 16 of the league's owners. Commissioner Branch Rickey decided to do what's right, as opposed to what's popular and integrated the sport in what ESPN's Peter Gammons calls, the single most important moment in baseball and sports history...

There should be a national holiday for Mr. Robinson. This is baseball's finest moment ever.

you guys are insensitive bastards - the guy had to sleep alone on the bus for Gods sake.....

How can you think JR was not a hero unless you’re a racist a__hole? Of course this man was a hero. I'll bet anyone criticizing him couldn't have walked in his shoes for a day without having a nervous breakdown. I'd give anything to shake this man's hand and thank him for his courage. (I’m a white guy if you’re wondering.)

Actually, he wasn't the first black player to participate in major league play. Two African American players debuted on May 1, 1884, but their duration of play was short-lived. On that note, I can't believe that Rateitall has turned into such a haven for racist bigots to come and bash African Americans that contributed to not only the game of baseball greatly, but the social history of America as a nation. This guy was fearless; he had death threats made against him daily and still had to go out and play baseball every night. I admired Pee Wee Reese for standing up and putting his arm around him and vocalize his friendship with Robinson. He was an exciting player, very fast on the base paths with a good bat and was a good shortstop. One of his proudest moments was when the Dodgers finally won the Series in '55 when he stole home on the Yankees and the famous shot of Yogi Berra tagging him. Safe or out? You decide. I have to give a ton of credit to Branch Rickey for making such a controversial signing, because it turned out to be nothing but a positive result for baseball and our nation as a whole. Jackie Robinson is every bit deserving of his place in the hall of fame because of his playing ability and his status as a gargantuan icon for the step toward a tolerant and integrated society. Don't be resentful just because you think Rose should be in the Hall, give credit where credit is due. This is the #1 most memorable event in baseball's history.