From ESPN, the #1 twenty-four-hour sports network in the world comes The Heroes of the Game: Jackie Robinson—a middle grade reader about the amazing life and career of the iconic and groundbreaking baseball player, featuring a full-color 8-page photo insert!

Even for kids that don’t play baseball, #42 is instantly recognizable. It’s not just a symbol of talent and greatness but of the power of sports to change the world. As the first Black player in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson’s trailblazing career remains as groundbreaking as it was magnificent.

His 1947 debut on the Dodgers, breaking the MLB color barrier. Winning the National League’s MVP as a second baseman only two years later. Jackie dancing down the third base line, ready to steal home against the Yankees in the 1955 World Series. These moments were some of the greatest events in sports history, made even more impressive by all the forces that Jackie had to battle just to have a chance to be on the field. From his days in the Army to joining the Dodgers and winning Rookie of the Year to his advocacy in the Civil Rights Movement, Robinson’s life and career was as inspiring as it was remarkable, both on and off the field.

What to expect:

• Bridge-Level Biography: At 128 pages, this biography is perfect for middle grade readers who want to learn all about their favorite stars, in a book custom-tailored for their reading level.
• ESPN Partnership: With in-depth game analysis paired with a traditional biographical narrative, this biography is the first of its kind, told in the engaging way that only the world’s best sports reporters of ESPN can.
• Photo Insert: With an 8-page photo insert, readers will be able to see for themselves many of the exciting events they’ve been reading about.
• Black History: As one of the most iconic and pioneering black athletes of all time, Robinson is an important figure in Black history and after his retirement from the MLB, contributed great efforts to the Civil Rights Movement.