By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Nate Hayes was about 7 years old when he learned about Jackie Robinson.

Nate remembers watching the movie “42” – titled after Robinson's jersey number with the Brooklyn Dodgers – and seeing the inspiring tale of an African American breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.

Now Hayes, an African American, wears No. 42 as a member of the Effingham County High School baseball team.

"We stand on the shoulders of who came before us and leaders like Jackie Robinson taught us to stand tall even if it meant standing alone," Hayes said. "Whatever sport or activity you take on, it's important to have confidence, to have faith and to know that you're inspiring others to walk the same path that you're walking at the moment. That's what Jackie Robinson means to me."

That's what Jackie Robinson means to a lot of Americans. Robinson played only 10 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but his legend endures now for 76 years, from the moment he stepped on the diamond and began a sport's integration on April 15, 1947, to end six decades of segregation.

Robinson finished his baseball career with a .311 batting average. He was a daredevil on the bases, and a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1962.

But his ability to endure the racial prejudices of the day paved the way for other non-white players. 

MLB established April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day in 2004 and since 2009 has requested every player competing on that day to wear the number 42.

MLB retired Robinson's number 42 in perpetuity in 1997.

"Growing up, Jackie Robinson was always someone I looked up to," Hayes said. "I remember in travel ball, when I was 10 years old, trying to run the bases like Robinson, thinking I was him on the movie screen."

Robinson didn't just inspire African Americans. ECHS coach Shane Ramsey wore No. 42 for similar reasons and his assistant Matthew Alligood wears No. 44 in honor of Hank Aaron.

"Back when I played, I had some speed, so I stole a lot of bases too," said Ramsey, smiling.

But the Rebels had a shortage of jerseys when Hayes, who also plays football and basketball, eventually joined the baseball team.

So Ramsey gave Hayes, who takes Advanced Placement honors classes, his jersey.

"I knew it would mean something to Nate -- the significance of Jackie Robinson -- to baseball," Ramsey said. "That was my way of paying homage to him because I know what kind of kid Nate is."

Hayes takes numbers seriously. He wore No. 7 as the quarterback on the football team for Biblical reasons and quickly pointed out that God rested on the seventh day.

"(Robinson) was obviously a legend on the field, but he was a legend off the field as well," Hayes said. "That's what I aspire to be, to get to be a little bit better at leading each and every day. Football, baseball, basketball, school -- I aspire to be a great leader and people like Jackie Robinson who came before us, they're great role models for me to follow.

"At the end of the day, (the number) 42 means a lot and I appreciate wearing it."