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By Colin Mixson
Brooklyn Daily
The folks at Municipal Credit Union, working with the Brooklyn Cyclones, treated 200 kids from Brooklyn Youth groups to a free screening of “42: The Jackie Robinson Story,” at the Sheepshead Bay Regal Theater on — you guessed it — Jackie Robinson Day, but not before they we regaled with stories from hometown heroes, Mets Hall of Fame pitcher John Franco, and former pro baseball player Terry McFarlin.
“They gave a speech in front of the movie, and were telling us to work hard and how you can never give up if you want to succeed and make it to the majors, you just can’t quit,” said 15-year-old ball player Meir Page, who plays for the Warriors.
Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player in America, made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, slugging balls for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
And what better way to commemorate his achievements than with the box-office hit about his life.
Page said his favorite part was when one of Robinson’s white colleagues stood up in his defense against an obnoxious heckler calling out from the stands.
“Yeah it was a good movie, I really liked it,” said Page. “My favorite part was when Jackie would go out to bat and this red neck guy taunted him, and one of his teammates came out and stuck up for him. That was the best.”
After the show, the big league legends, both raised in Southern Brooklyn, stuck around to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.