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April 17, 2006
Shuba's Handshake, Jackie Robinson's Debut to be Honored Tomorrow
Youngstown -- Sixty years ago to the
day tomorrow, Youngstown native
George Shuba's handshake with Jackie
Robinson symbolized the breakdown of
professional baseball's racial
barrier. That handshake and
Robinson's professional debut will
be celebrated tomorrow as Shuba will
throw out the first pitch prior to
Youngstown State's game with
Cleveland State at 3 p.m.
In his second professional at bat for the Montreal Royals of
the International League on April
18, 1946, Robinson hit a 335-foot
home run to left field. As Robinson
crossed home plate, Shuba extended
his hand for what is regarded as the
first white-black handshake in
professional baseball.
"We're honored to
be a part of this celebration of one
of the greatest moments in baseball
history," YSU head coach Mike Florak
said. "It's one of those great
moments that shows how athletics can
raise social awareness."
Robinson went on to lead the Royals to a dominating season in
which the team won the pennant by 18
1/2 games, and Robinson's average of
.349 led the league. He hit only two
more home runs that season, but the
photo capturing his exchange with
Shuba ran in newspapers across the
country. The photograph has since
been recognized as "A Handshake for
the Century."
Shuba, 81, played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948 to 1955
and earned the nickname "Shotgun"
for his consistent hitting of line
drives. His best season was in 1952
when he batted .305 with nine home
runs and 40 RBIs in 94 games. He
also hit a pinch-hit home run in the
1953 World Series against the
Yankees, and he was a member of the
Dodgers' 1955 World Series
Championship squad.
Shuba's account ran as the top story in the sports section of
the New York Times on Monday, and
Major League Baseball celebrated
"Jackie Robinson Day" on April 15.
The Penguins are coming off of two wins against UW-Milwaukee
last weekend, and the Vikings have
won four of their last five games.
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