As we were rolling out our Black History Series, one of baseball’s historical icons sadly passed away. Therefore we feel it necessary to stop, reflect and honour major league baseball’s first black manager, Frank Robinson.
Not only was Frank Robinson the first black manager, he was also the only player to earn the MVP Award in both leagues and a Triple Crown winner.
Frank Robinson was born in Beaumont, Texas, later moving to Oakland California where he went to Mc Clymonds Highschool where he played high school baseball with future major leaguers Curt Flood and Vada Pinson and also played basketball with the legendary Hall Of Famer Bill Russel. Frank Robinson will truly be remembered as one of baseball’s all time greats, a Bay Area legend and Major League Baseball’s first black manager.
We respect and honour the legacy of Frank Robinson.
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Doctor Vivien Theodore Thomas was an African-American surgical technician who developed the procedures used to treat blue baby syndrome in the 1940’s. Although he was not allowed to perform surgeries due to the racist attitudes of the times, he trained and guided various white surgeons through the procedures he developed.
In honour of our Black History Series, today we’d like to honour and recognize George Dixon, born in Africville, Nova Scotia, who was the first black World Champion of any sport. He was also known as the inventor of shadow boxing and using the punching bag which was suspended from the ceiling. George Dixon was not only the first black World Champion of any sport, he also was an innovator of training techniques which are still used today.