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My wife did Jackie Robinson's blood work at Belview Hospital in NY City many moons ago! Rocky Colovito, the great Cleavland Indians star player, grew up with me in the Bronx. Both of these guys were the best there could be in baseball!
Posted 3 months ago by Marvin K. from Plainview, NY

Wow! He was probably the best baseball player.
Posted 4 months ago by Arthur from Adrian, Michigan

Great one. Learn to respect yourself first then the world will follow.
Posted 4 months ago by Kirthishri M. V. from Bangalore, India

Jackie Robinson was a truly noble man. He refused to allow fools to bring him down, and he silenced them by proving himself, both on and off the ball field. Today's Major League players could learn a thing or two from him.
Posted 6 months ago by Scott C. from New Castle, Indiana

I WAS BORN IN 1947. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WHICH COULD BE SAID ABOUT THIS TRAILBLAZING AMERICAN WHO HAPPENED TO BE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION I'M VERY PROUD OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR GIVING AN HONOR TO MR. ROBINSON WHICH NO OTHER MAJOR LEAGUER HAS BEEN HONORED WITH. TO RETIRE HIS NUMBER FROM 'THE GAME' AND NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER PLAYER TO EVER WEAR IT AS THEIR NUMBER SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. IN LIGHT OF THIS ACTION, I CAN NOW FORGIVE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR DENYING AFRICAN-AMERICANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES PRIOR TO 1947 AND FOR CAUSING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEAGUE TO FOLD AFTER THE BETTER PLAYERS LEFT TO PLAY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE.
Posted 7 months ago by ROBERT D. from LAS VEGAS

Success requires the strength of character so you should believe in yourself and keep your head up and be yourself and not who people want you to be.
Posted 7 months ago by Jaida A. from Orlando, Florida

I was 10 years old when Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. We lived close enough to Cooperstown, and I was an avid baseball fan, so my Dad took me. It was 50+ years ago and I still remember what happened. There weren't a lot of media then, and the inductees just mingled with the crowd. Jackie was standing alone and I, a small girl, went up to him and asked for his autograph. He gladly signed my program, and we spoke for a minute. A TRULY decent humble man. Then I saw Bob Fellar, asked him for an autograph, and he said he would not give it to a GIRL. I thought my Dad would fall over, and Jackie looked at him stunned. Hero is NOT just what you do on the ball field, but the way you act with people. Jackie Robinson deserved the accolades he received, because he was a true every day hero, and he remains on a pedestal for me to this day.
Posted 9 months ago by Patti P. from Kent, Ohio

Jakie Robinson has changed how people look at the game today. Robinson took all of the criticism and the racism and put it all behind him. He was just proving to everyone that a single person regardless of color can play as good or even better then the whites. If it wasn't for Jakie you would never heard of Alex Rodruguiez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols etc. Jakie Robinson is a hero in everyone eyes and will always be an inspiration.
Posted 10 months ago by from

The billboards and messages are fantastic! This was the first one I saw on the road coming home from Boston. Then saw the Preparation one. Fantastic idea especially for our young people to see and hopefully "pass it on"!!
Posted 10 months ago by Helen B. from Drexel Hill, PA

Jackie Robinson has inspired many people and baseball players around the world, that why Jackie Robinson is one of my favorite player all times.
Posted 10 months ago by Hernaldo M. from Jefferson City, MO

Every time I have driven by this billboard along the I-10, it renews my faith in the greatness of this nation to overcome obstacles through the leadership of exceptional individuals. Truly inspirational!
Posted about 1 year ago by Peter H. from Highland, CA

Well when I first saw this billboard in my city I was really impressed. I saw the website which led me to all these wonderful things. Keep it up FBL!
Posted about 1 year ago by Kimberly V. from Los Angeles, CA

Well played, so to speak.
Jackie Robinson was a great example of all types of virtues: strength, persistence, character, leading by example, and dedication.
Tony Dungy is another man in sports who surely has borrowed a page from Jackie.
Great work, FBL!
Posted about 1 year ago by Scott C. from New Castle, Indiana

I think this is such a great billboard
Posted about 1 year ago by Jane D. from South Carolina

I SAW JACKIE ROBINSON PLAY WHEN I WAS A KID. LAST WEEK, COMING HOME THROUGH THE PHILLY AIRPORT, I SAW THE DISPLAY. I ACTUALLY STOPPED TO ADMIRE THE POSTER, IT BROUGHT BACK THE MEMORIES OF JACKIE. THANKS.
Posted about 1 year ago by FRED S. from HAMILTON, NJ

Jackie Robinson is my favorite. I absolutely love this billboard. Knowing that you used him to represent character makes me totally believe in your organization. Well done!!

Posted about 1 year ago by Karli I. from Pennsylvania

This billboard caught my eye and I really am impressed by Mr. Robinson! Keep it up FBL!! Very inspirational!
Posted about 1 year ago by Sofia B. from Cincinnati, OH

This is very inspirational. I look at this billboard everyday to help me remember who I am. Thank you.
Posted about 1 year ago by Austin N. from Mcminnville, OR

That was beautiful. I'm in tears right now.
Posted about 1 year ago by Stan S. from Salt Lake City, Utah

This is very inspirational. Thank you so much. I love you.
Posted about 1 year ago by Austin N. from McMinnville, Oregon

Changed my life forever.
Posted about 1 year ago by Gabriel B. from McMinnville, OR

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Jackie Robinson

Posted about 1 year ago by SpringHawk T. from Los Angeles

I look forward to seeing the FBL billboards so that I can share them with my Adult Day Health Care participants. Here's to you for adding inspiration and joy to my daily commute!
Posted about 1 year ago by Kathy H. from Bakersfield, California

This shows what a person can accomplish in spite of all odds. What an incredible and inspirational story.
Posted about 1 year ago by Sandra M. from

Every time I approach the SF Bay Bridge I am moved and inspired by your image of Jackie Robinson...
Cheers!
Posted about 1 year ago by Coleman from San Francisco

Wow!! All of these are incredible. I want this one as my computer background!
Posted about 1 year ago by Steve S. from Hackettstown, New Jersey USA

A true American hero who fought prejudice with class and a head held high. I love that you added Jackie to the list!
Posted about 1 year ago by Steve S. from Omaha, NE

WOW!
Posted about 1 year ago by Emma S. from Utah

What an amazing story... he was the first African-American to play major league baseball and I think he would be proud of how far our country has come today. His story is inspirational...
Posted about 1 year ago by V from Salt Lake City, Utah

Character

About This Billboard

It requires incredible foresight to remain faithful to an idea. To ignore what your eyes and ears tell you and imagine better. One individual – Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson imagined better and ended eighty years of baseball segregation. He crossed the color line and made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 as the first African American in major league baseball.

One of five, born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA, Robinson was raised in relative poverty by a single mother. Even though he wasn’t born into a privileged environment, Jackie was destined for something infinitely larger. His professional baseball career, which spanned from 1947 to 1957, is the quintessential story of an All American Baseball hero.

Despite unmitigated racial discrimination from baseball’s management, teammates and fans, Robinson possessed the courage to defy retaliation and was the consummate athletic professional. He was an outstanding base runner, stealing home 19 times in his career more than any ball player since World War I. As a disciplined hitter, a versatile fielder and an outstanding defensive player Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949 for the National League. He was the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and became a member of the All-Century Team. He received a championship ring when he led the Dodgers to a 1955 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.

Major League Baseball retired Robinson’s number 42 – never to be worn by another ball player – in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field in a ceremony at Shea Stadium.

Robinson’s historic achievements in baseball were but one aspect of his life and legacy. Quoted as saying, “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me – all I ask is that you respect me as a human being” he was a champion of civil and human rights. He was a staunch supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Anti Defamation League of B’nai Brith. He founded the Jackie Robinson Construction Corporation to improve living conditions of Black Americans in metropolitan areas and he served as Vice President of Chock Full O’ Nuts.

Robinson was a significant fundraiser for the NAACP and a major figure in national politics influencing leaders such as Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon; Hubert Humphrey and Nelson Rockefeller. As a syndicated columnist, he was a civil rights movement forerunner. One of only two players in baseball Jackie received the Congressional Gold Medal and President Ronald Regan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.