Deep down in each and every one of us is a snob. We prefer to see shows on Broadway instead of the community theater. We prefer our steaks to come from a steakhouse instead of a diner. We’d prefer to watch the Masters over the Shell Houston Open. There’s nothing wrong with a community theatre, diner steak, or the Shell Houston Open. In fact, they can all be quite good. However, deep down, we want to see the best of the best. 

That’s part of the enduring legacy of Jackie Robinson. 

No, this aspect of his enduring legacy is not discussed all that frequently. Mostly, it’s because it may be the least important part of his legacy. Robinson lived in a different world, even a different United States, than we do today. His breaking the color barrier pre-dated the end of segregation. Robinson playing for the Dodgers was not just important for baseball, but also for civil rights. 

But make no mistake, it was important for baseball. 

Because of Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier, we get to see the best players all play together and against one another. We get to see Ichiro Suzuki try to get to 3,000 hits this year. We get to see Carlos Beltran try to hit his 400th homerun this year. We just saw Bryce Harper hit his 100th homerun. CC Sabathia looks to record his 2,600 strikeout and move into the Top 25 in that category all time. 

Each and every single one of these players, and the countless others not mentioned, are doing this at the highest level. As players, these players know they are truly exceptional because they are unequivocally doing this against the best players in the sport regardless of creed, race, or religion. As fans, we get to see the best players from around the world play baseball at the highest level. No matter what, we get to see the best of the best. 

Thank you Jackie Robinson for making that and so much more possible.