Thank You, Jackie: Players Who Benefited From Jackie Robinson
These great Black baseball players came after Jackie.
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Thank You, Jackie - Jackie Robinson made history when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, breaking the league's racial barrier and eventually leading to the further integration of the MLB. In honor of this date, BET.com takes a look at other great African-American baseball legends that came after him. (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)
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Hank Aaron - Like Robinson, Hank Aaron was a star in the Negro Leagues before joining Major League Baseball in 1954, making his debut with the Milwaukee Braves. Over 23 seasons in the major leagues, he won one World Series championship (1976) and set a score of MLB records, including 17 consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits, among other honors. (Photo: Atlanta Journal Constitution/MCT /Landov)
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Kenny Williams - The former outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, Kenny Williams took on several administrative roles with the Sox post-retirement and was eventually promoted to general manager in 2000. He currently serves as executive vice president. (Photo: David Banks/Getty Images)
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Ken Griffey Jr. - Ken Griffey Jr., the son of MLB great Ken Griffey Sr., spent the majority of his professional career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, the same team as his father. His accomplishments include one MVP award (1997), 10 Golden Glove awards and 13 All-Star game appearances. He retired with the Seattle Mariners in 2010. (Photo: Atlanta Journal Constitution/MCT /Landov)
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Willie Mays - Mays debuted in the MLB with the New York Giants in 1951 and went on to win one World Series title (1954), two MVP awards (1954, 1965) and record-tying 12 Golden Glove awards, in addition to other recognitions. He was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. (Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Darryl Strawberry - Despite his controversial off-field life, Strawberry is best remembered for his time with the New York Mets and their subsequent championship title in 1986. (Photo: Tony Inzerillo/Allsport/Getty Images)
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Eric Davis - Davis’s stint with the Cincinnati Reds remains legendary after the team's 1990 World Series sweep of the Oakland A’s. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Reggie Jackson - A member of the legendary, if not somewhat controversial, 1977 New York Yankees clubhouse, Jackson is credited for clinching the 1977 World Series for his team. (Photo: Louis Requena/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Tony Gwynn - A career-long member of the San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn is a 15 time all-star who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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Eddie Murray - Despite having stints with the Dodgers, Angels and the Mets, it was his first team, the Baltimore Orioles, that Murray is most fondly associated with due to their championship win in 1983. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT/Getty Images)
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Barry Bonds - Although many will remember Bonds for his tainted legacy, his career highs throughout the '90s were met with much fanfare. (Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
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Bob Gibson - A 1981 Hall of Famer, Gibson played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he won two World Series. (Photo: Louis Reqeuna/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Kirby Puckett - Having spent his entire professional career with the Minnesota Twins, Puckett also managed to achieve 1,000 hits during his first five years with the team — a record achieved by only three other players. Sadly, Puckett passed away in 2006 due to a massive stroke. (Photo: Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Dave Stewart - A legendary pitcher, one of Stewart’s crowning accomplishments was his no-hitter game against the Blue Jays in 1990. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
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Rickey Henderson - The 10-time all-star won two World Series and was active in the major leagues until the age of 43. (Photo: OTTO GREULE/ALLSPORT/Getty Images)