Born 97 years ago Sunday was baseball icon Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the major leagues in the modern era. From 1947 through 1956, the former UCLA football and baseball star led the Brooklyn Dodgers. His most memorable seasons came in 1949, when he earned National League Most Valuable Player honors, and in 1955, when the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. The Dodgers retired his uniform number 42 in 1972, then Major League Baseball placed 42 aside for all teams in 2009. The Illini have had several fine athletes who’ve worn number 42 through the years in a variety of sports:
—Muhammad Abdullah, football (1998 to 2001)
—Willie Argo, baseball (2009-12)
—Ralph Cooper, football (2011-14)
—Gene Cross, men’s basketball (1993-94)
—Tyler Griffey, men’s basketball (2010-13)
—David James, football (1994-97)
—Chuck Kogut, football (1971-73)
—Kevin Mitchell, football (2004-07)
—Amber Moore, women’s basketball (2010-14)
—Stacey Pfeifer, women’s basketball (1984-85)
—Andy Phillip, baseball (1942-47)
—Cyril Pinder, football (1965-66)
—Brian Randle, men’s basketball (2004-08)
—Kate Riley, women’s basketball (1989-92)
—Thomas Rooks, football (1982-85)
—Jim Rucks, men’s basketball (1972-73)
—Jerry Schumacher, football (1999 to 2002)
—Mark Smith, men’s basketball (1978-81)
—Calvin Thomas, football (1978-81)
—Mary Pat Travnik, women’s basketball (1976)
—John Wachter, football (1986-90)
Illini birthdays
Sunday: Leron Black, basketball (20)
Monday: Glenn Collier, football (66)
Tuesday: Wayne Paulson, football (73)
Wednesday: Craig Swoope, football (52)
Thursday: Jeff Hasenstab, football (44)
Friday: Kris Jenner, football (54)
Saturday: Danny and Dusty Rhodes, baseball (40)
By Mike Pearson, author of Illini Legends, Lists & Lore
Get more Illini birthdays, trivia and historical tidbits daily on Twitter at @B1GLLL.