Green Bay Packers defensive end Willie Davis, who played in the NFL from 1958-1969 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, passed away 2 years ago on April 15th, 2020, which is Jackie Robinson Day. Davis, who lived to be 85 years old, was the Packers’ First Black Captain in franchise history while playing for Vince Lombardi’s championship teams of the 1960’s. On a day that is honored every year by the MLB and many other organizations, I wanted to take a moment to recognize both of these men.
Jackie Robinson, who was qualified from a talent standpoint to play in the MLB years before he made his debut on April 15th, 1947, endured racial slanders and death threats from teammates, coaches and fans during his time in the league.