In 1942, during World War II, Jackie Robinson was drafted and assigned to a segregated army cavalry at Little Fort Riley, Kansas, right up the road from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Ironically, two of the most legendary sports figures in American sports history were both stationed at Fort

Riley, Jackie Robinson and Joe Lewis.

Yes, the heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Lewis.

Joe Lewis at that time was the star.

Because again, to be the world's fastest man, or the heavyweight champion of the world,

were the two most prestigious sports titles that you

could hold in this country. Jackie Robinson, who certainly, along with other African-Americans,

had the qualifications to be an officer, but Fort Riley was not admitting blacks into its

officer school program. And so there was some protests.

Some of that protest was led by Joe Lewis.

Joe Lewis, who had done exhibition prize fights to help raise money for the military,

would call in some favors and helped his friend Jackie Robinson get into officer school.

Jackie would then be transferred over to Fort Hood in Texas.

Hilton Smith, who was from Gettings, Texas, a star pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs,

had seen Jackie Robinson playing while he was stationed in the military.

And he had already prior recommended Jackie Robinson to the monarch's owner James Leslie

Wilkinson.

Well, in 1945, Jackie Robinson writes to Wilkie and again, asked for a tryout.

They try Jackie out in Houston, Texas.

And Jackie makes the team.

And little did J.L. Wilkinson know that he had just signed a man that was going to put him out of business.

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