KANSAS CITY, Mo. — By all accounts, the new movie “42” is expected to be a home run in more ways than one.
In 1947, when a young Jackie Robinson, the former Kansas City Monarchs and Brooklyn Dodgers player, stepped out on the baseball field, he broke the color barrier in baseball –and made history.
WATCH: Movie trailer for “42”
“This is before the Brown vs. the Board of Education. This is before Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus,” Bob Kendrick of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum said.
While Robinson was not only the first African American to play Major League Baseball, No. 42 would also become a trailblazer for civil rights.
“Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier wasn’t just part of the Civil Rights movement that actually signaled the beginning of what we now believe to be the modern day Civil Rights movement.”
Fast forward to 2013 — and Hollywood is now remembering Robinson’s legacy on the big screen.
Kansas City is hosting the premiere of the film — which will also pay off big for the Negro League Baseball Museum and the city.
“I think it’s something that we’re all very proud of for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to have a hand in securing what is an epic box office attraction. In ’42,’ the story of Jackie Robinson is really impressive,” Kendrick said.
Ninth grader Nicquan Moore can’t wait to see “42.”
“Now, I’m like kind of getting into baseball,” Moore said. “Now that the movie is coming out I can kind of see where it came from and how it’s affecting us today and stuff — so that’s why I call him a hero.”
RED CARPET SCREENING
The special Kansas City “red carpet” screening will happen at 8 p.m. Thursday at the AMC BarryWoods 24, 8101 Roanridge Rd., Kansas City, Mo., 64151.
Among those expected to be there include actor Harrison Ford, Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Brock, Tony Clark, Jackie Robinson’s son and others.
Unfortunately, due to demand, tickets are no longer available for the event.
- For information on the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: click here
- For more information on the National Archives at Kansas City: click here
