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Coin Of the Month

Plinky's Coin of the Month
April 2000

Batter up!  The ball player on this commemorative coin made history in 1947 when he played in his first major league game.  Can you name him?

Hint: His uniform number (42) is the only one that's been retired for all baseball teams.

Three cheers—not strikes—for anyone who answered Jackie Robinson!  This Brooklyn Dodger broke the "color barrier" in 1947 by being the first African American to play major league baseball.  That year, Robinson hit 12 home runs, had a .297 batting average, and led his league with 29 stolen bases (three of which were home plate).  This winning season earned him the 1947 National League Rookie of the Year award.

That award was just the first of many Robinson won.  In 1949, he won the batting title with a .342 average, again led his league in stolen bases, and was selected as the National League's Most Valuable Player (MVP).  During the 10 years Robinson played with the Dodgers, the team played in six World Series, winning its first championship in 1955.  Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, the first year he was eligible.

In 1997, Major League Baseball celebrated the 50th anniversary of Robinson's joining the league.  All players wore a commemorative patch on their uniforms throughout the season, and Robinson's "number 42" was officially retired for all time.

The 1997 Jackie Robinson Silver Dollar Obverse
Obverse:  The coin's obverse shows Robinson stealing home plate, just as he did during the 1955 World Series.

The 1997 Jackie Robinson Silver Dollar Reverse
Reverse:  The 50th anniversary logo of Robinson's breaking of the color barrier appears on the coin's reverse.



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