The dream of Martin Luther King Jr. – to have a better future for all is as applicable today as it was more than half a century ago. No one other than the King himself closely identifies with the civil rights struggle that took place in the mid-20th century. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, the King led uncountable non-violent peaceful protests to achieve racial justice. Because of this, he also garnered the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
His aim for equality and freedom has left an impact on the country, that people follow his teachings even today. When the day came to honor the legacy left by the King, the MLB world came together to pay tribute to the legend himself for everything he did for the country and its people.
Martin Luther King Jr. – the man who had a heart of a 60-year-old
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Shortly after the King was assassinated, during his autopsy, it was revealed that even though he was only 39 years old; he had a heart of a 60-year-old. Having left a huge impact on the whole country, King also had a significant impact on the sports world. Therefore, to honor him, his legacy, and everything he did, Major League Baseball’s teams came forward to pay tribute to one of the most prominent leaders.
Read More: PHOTO: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Teaches His Son to Play Baseball
Following are some of the tributes by King’s son and the sports world.
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”#MLK #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/5q0Vp6rRO7
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 16, 2023
A father. 🖤 #MLK #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/g3uqR1Vwmz
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 16, 2023
Today, and everyday, we remember the life and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.#MLKDay pic.twitter.com/NLvEWnTUUV
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 16, 2023
Today we honor the incredible life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/WTgtwqjMhm
— New York Mets (@Mets) January 16, 2023
Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/4YJVdL53oC
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 16, 2023
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remember his dedication to justice and peace. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/POI7LqrxEb
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) January 16, 2023
Today, we are proud to honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/YaZPqbh3pZ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 16, 2023
Today, we remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/MwErudPcvE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 16, 2023
As we reflect today, we congratulate @EmbraceBOS on memorializing Dr. King’s and Coretta Scott King’s lasting love, work, and legacy in Boston and across the globe. pic.twitter.com/zA184tvepH
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 16, 2023
Today, we reflect on and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/0n2WXPfx9v
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) January 16, 2023
Today we remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/IOMrdFdZV7
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) January 16, 2023
Honoring #MLKDay by serving our local community with @PlayersAlliance and @fftsoul. pic.twitter.com/q1GOgSWjlt
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) January 16, 2023
Other than the teams, former players like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter also paid tribute to the King via Instagram stories. The day to honor the legacy is celebrated every third Monday of January in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
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MLK and baseball: a saga
A little-known fact about the King is that he was a passionate baseball fan. A fan of the Dodgers, he was fascinated more by Jackie Robinson than anyone else. The reason behind it was that Robinson had broken color barriers in baseball.
Watch this story: Ranking the top 5 best lineups in baseball
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The way that King understood the game’s importance was different. He was not an athlete and wasn’t even an avid baseball fan. But he knew the game’s strength and what it represented to America. It was his way of honoring the game.
How did you honor the King on MLK Jr day? Let us know in the comments below!
