On October 24, 1972, Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson , weakened by complications of heart disease and diabetes, dies of a heart attack in his home in North Stamford, Connecticut. The 53 year-old nearly blind baseball pioneer and social activist’s death comes nine days after his appearance at the World Series, where he threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, during his last appearance Robinson championed the face there needed to be more Negro’s in the dugout as managers and upper management positions. Robinson had become the first black major league player of the 20th century with the 1947 Dodgers.
