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42 Days to Go: Willie O’Ree and the Los Angeles Blades

Jackie Robinson called it home, but did you know hockey’s own barrier breaker played in Los Angeles?

Our countdown to the start of the season continues, with 42 days to go.

When it comes to sports, some numbers are tied to the fabric of a city. Ask anyone in Chicago about #23, Green Bay about #4, or Detroit about #9. Los Angeles has to be one of the few cities tied to a jersey number who never actually played as a professional in that city. But Jackie Robinson was no ordinary #42, and even if his whole MLB career was based in Brooklyn, his Pasadena upbringing, UCLA exploits, and the Dodgers’ long and storied history in LA ensure that his Los Angeles legacy is strong.