Memories of Jackie Robinson

St. Paul, Minn. — April 15 is the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. On that day in 1947, Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier.

In honor of his place in baseball history, many major leaguers, including Torii Hunter of the Twins, will wear Robinson's uniform number 42 for the anniversary.

A Twin Cities resident has been honoring Jackie Robinson in his own way for years. Ron Rabinowitz became friends with Robinson through letters they exchanged beginning in the 1950s when Rabinowitz was a boy.

Rabinowitz now makes regular appearances in classrooms, where he tells children about his friend Jackie Robinson, who died in 1972.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer asked Ron Rabinowitz to share the story of his friendship with Jackie Robinson.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, 04/13/2007, 7:50 a.m.