"[ Michael] Long and his contributors attempt to separate the man from the myth and show how his influence continues to extend ...These pieces embody all of what made Robinson special, assessing him through many different lenses...give[ s] a towering cultural figure his due beyond the baselines."" (Kirkus Reviews (starred)) "This collection of essays explores baseball legend Jackie Robinson's complicated legacy, his impact on society and the inner turmoil that came with his historic achievements." (USA Today) "[ Michael] Long, along with 13 contributors, explore lesser-known aspects of the life of Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black American to play Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...Even those who know nothing about Robinson will take something inspiring away from this excellent anthology." (Publishers Weekly) "Juxtaposing events in the sports world from the '40s to now, 42 Today recalls Robinson's legacy and establishes how he paved a way for future civil rights activism, from Black Lives Matter to Colin Kaepernick." (TheRoot.com) "Whether you consider yourself a baseball scholar or not, 42 Today has something to teach you. With 13 essays as well as a foreword by Ken and Sarah Burns and David McMahon and an introduction by the editor, there is no shortage of information about the man's life, some well known and some obscure. In addition to correcting the errors in what we know about Robinson, there is also detail of how Robinson and his legacy affected groups beyond the typically male-dominated realm of baseball fans." (CoveringtheCorner.com) "2021 marks the 75th anniversary of Branch Rickey signing Jackie Robinson to the Montreal Royals, which integrated organized baseball for the first time since the 19th century. Anniversaries of important historical events offer opportunities to reflect on their significance, and this collection of essays makes use of the occasion to explore Robinson's activism in civil rights, politics, and sports." (Choice) "The value of this collection is in its breadth and accessibility an excellent addition to an undergraduate course on baseball, race, and American history." - Sarah L. Trembanis (University of Delaware) (Journal of African American History)
