The Most Comprehensive Database of African-Americans in Sports

August 28, 1945

A moment in American history takes place in Brooklyn as Branch Rickey meets with Jackie Robinson to share his plans to integrate the major leagues. During the three hour meeting, the Dodgers' president will shout racial epithets to ‘test' the 26-year old ballplayer’s mettle to withstand the abuse which will come with being the first player to cross the color line this century. more.

August 27, 1982

Twenty-three-year-old Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A's stole his 119th base of the season in the third inning of a 5-4 loss to the host Milwaukee Brewers, breaking Lou Brock's major-league record set with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. Henderson finished the year with 130 stolen bases, still the single-season record, and broke Brock's career record of 938 steals in 1991. more.

August 9, 2002

Barry Bonds joins Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players ever to hit 600 career home runs in the major leagues. The 38-year-old Giant left fielder hit the milestone homer in the sixth inning by lining 2-1 pitch thrown by Pirates starter Kip Wells over the center field wall at Pacific Bell Park. more.

In 1936, Jesse Owens arrived in Berlin to compete for the United States in the Summer Olympics. Adolf Hitler was using the games to show the world a resurgent Nazi Germany. He and other government officials had high hopes that German athletes would dominate the games with victories (the German athletes achieved a "top of the table" medal haul). Meanwhile, Nazi propaganda promoted concepts of "Aryan racial superiority" and depicted ethnic Africans as inferior.

Owens surprised many by winning four gold medals: On August 3, 1936 he won the 100m sprint,... more.

August 2, 1992

For all the wondrous performances of her career, the medals, the records, the inspiration she has been for others, what Jackie Joyner-Kersee accomplished in 1992 may overshadow it all. At only 30 years of age, well into her 11th year of competing in the heptathlon, she won an Olympic gold medal, her second in the seven-event grind, something no woman had ever done.

"For me, it's the challenge," Joyner- Kersee said. "The challenge to try to beat myself or do better than I did in the past. I try to keep in mind not what I have accomplished but... more.

July 28, 1999

As quietly and as unassumingly as he entered the National Football League, Barry Sanders left it, simply issuing a statement that he was retiring after 10 seasons as a Detroit Lions running back.

His statement, in part, read: "Today I officially declare my departure from the NFLI leave on good terms with everyone in the organization. The reason I am retiring is simple: my desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have... more.