This Day in History:, Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier.
April 15, 1947.
The 28-year-old baseball player
became the first African American
to play for Major League Baseball.
The Georgia native stepped onto the grass
of Ebbots Field in Brooklyn as a Brooklyn Dodger.
Two years later,
the star infielder was named the
National League's MVP as well as a batting champ.
He led his team to six National League
pennants and the World Series in 1955.
Robinson was subjected
to the racism of both players and
baseball fans throughout his career.
Jim Crow laws forced him to dine
at different restaurants and stay at
different hotels than the rest of his team.
Robinson was inducted into
the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
His number, 42, was the the first to be retired in 1997
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Comedian Elayne Boosler says she was handcuffed and nearly thrown in the slammer after showing up to the Dodger game on Sunday ... claiming the whole debacle.. TMZ.com
Carl Erskine, , 1950s Dodgers Pitcher, , Dead at 97.
NBC reports that the baseball legend
died at Community Hospital Anderson in Indiana.
He was one of the last surviving members of the
celebrated Brooklyn teams from the 1950s, having
spent his entire career playing for the Dodgers.
He was one of the last surviving members of the
celebrated Brooklyn teams from the 1950s, having
spent his entire career playing for the Dodgers.
Between 1948 and 1959,
Erskine and the Dodgers took home
five National League pennants.
Between 1948 and 1959,
Erskine and the Dodgers took home
five National League pennants.
The right-handed pitcher had a career record of 122-78 with 981 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.00.
Erskine's best season came in 1953
when he led the National League
with a record of 20-6.
In 1954, Erskine had another
All-Star season, winning 18 games.
Out of his five World Series appearances,
the Dodgers beat the Yankees
in 1955 to win their only championship.
Out of his five World Series appearances,
the Dodgers beat the Yankees
in 1955 to win their only championship.
With Erskine's passing, 88-year-old
Sandy Koufax becomes the lone surviving
Dodgers player from that 1955 World Series team.
With Erskine's passing, 88-year-old
Sandy Koufax becomes the lone surviving
Dodgers player from that 1955 World Series team.
In July of 2023, the Baseball Hall of Fame's
board of directors awarded Erskine with
the Buck O'Neil lifetime achievement award.
In July of 2023, the Baseball Hall of Fame's
board of directors awarded Erskine with
the Buck O'Neil lifetime achievement award.
For millions of fans, he was
a baseball hero. For his family
and thousands of Special Olympians,
Carl was someone who always
believed everything was possible. , Jane Forbes Clark, Baseball Hall of Fame chairman, via NBC.
His legacy is one
of deep compassion
and encouragement
of the human spirit, Jane Forbes Clark, Baseball Hall of Fame chairman, via NBC
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Ex-Ohtani Interpreter , Likely to Face Federal Charges, Sources Say.
NBC reports that Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter
may face federal charges in connection with a
gambling investigation into a California bookie. .
According to sources, Ohtani has
been assisting with the investigation.
The news from NBC follows a similar report by TMZ
that Ippei Mizuhara, the former Ohtani interpreter,
will be facing charges by federal authorities.
On March 21, Mizuhara was fired by the L.A. Dodgers
after attorneys representing Ohtani alleged
"massive theft" had occurred related to sports gambling.
On March 21, Mizuhara was fired by the L.A. Dodgers
after attorneys representing Ohtani alleged
"massive theft" had occurred related to sports gambling.
In response, Major League Baseball , opened an investigation. .
On March 25, Ohtani made his first public comments on
the matter, saying that he had been betrayed and lied to,
while denying any involvement in gambling.
I’m very saddened and
shocked that someone
who I trusted has done this, Shohei Ohtani, via NBC.
Ippei has been stealing
money from my account
and has told lies, Shohei Ohtani, via NBC.
NBC reports that Mizuhara is both Ohtani's
interpreter and long-time friend who has had
a constant presence beside the baseball phenom.
The scandal, involving over $4.5 million in wire transfers
from Ohtani's account, was brought to light
following reports by ESPN and the 'Los Angeles Times.'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
This Day in History: , Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth’s
All-Time Home Run Record.
April 8, 1974.
Aaron hit his 715th home run
to earn the new record in front of
a crowd of 53,775 in Atlanta.
He hit the record-breaking homer
off a pitch from LA Dodgers' Al Downing.
The extraordinary achievement
would remain in place until 2007.
Aaron made his major league debut
with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954.
Over the span of his 23-year career,
Aaron played for the Braves in both Milwaukee and
Atlanta. He ended his career with the Milwaukee Brewers.
When he retired in 1976,
he had 755 home runs.
He was inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982
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Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Fired , Amid Allegations of ‘Massive Theft’.
Ippei Mizuhara, the Dodgers' interpreter for Ohtani, was fired on March 20, ESPN reports. .
Ippei Mizuhara, the Dodgers' interpreter for Ohtani, was fired on March 20, ESPN reports. .
Mizuhara, a longtime friend of Ohtani, allegedly wired at least $4.5 million to a bookmaking operation in Southern
California to cover his gambling debts.
At first, a spokesman for Ohtani and Mizuhara
said that the baseball star purposefully transferred the funds to pay his friend's gambling debt.
At first, a spokesman for Ohtani and Mizuhara
said that the baseball star purposefully transferred the funds to pay his friend's gambling debt.
I dug myself a hole and it kept on
getting bigger, and it meant I had to
bet bigger to get out of it and just kept
on losing. It's like a snowball effect, Ippei Mizuhara, to ESPN.
Obviously, he [Ohtani] wasn't happy
about it and said he would help me
out to make sure I never do this again.
He decided to pay it off for me. , Ippei Mizuhara, to ESPN.
I want everyone to know Shohei had
zero involvement in betting. I want people
to know I did not know this was illegal.
I learned my lesson the hard way.
I will never do sports betting ever again, Ippei Mizuhara, to ESPN.
Later, both the spokesperson and
Mizuhara walked back their claims.
In the course of responding to
recent media inquiries, we discovered
that Shohei has been the victim of a
massive theft, and we are turning
the matter over to the authorities, Berk Brettler LLP, via statement.
Obviously, this is all my fault,
everything I've done. I'm ready
to face all the consequences, Ippei Mizuhara, via statement.
Southern California bookmaker
Mathew Bowyer, whom the wire transfers
were sent to, is also being investigated.
Sports betting is currently illegal in California
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