Protests and unrest in 2020 sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, shined an even brighter spotlight on police brutality against African Americans.
Gibson emerged as a raw, but immensely talented rookie who would not be denied stardom. He became a full-time starting pitcher in July 1961 and earned his first All-Star appearance in 1962. Gibson won two of three games he pitched in the 1964 World Series, then won 20 games in a season for the first time in 1965. Gibson also pitched three complete game victories in the 1967 World Series.
First-ballot Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who was Major League Baseball’s first Black manager, has died at the age of 83 after a prolonged battle with bone cancer. Robinson is one of the most groundbreaking figures in MLB history. He heavily impacted the integration of Black players into the league. Nearly a decade after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1946, Robinson broke into the majors earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1956 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds.
Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.