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August 8, 2007
As reported on www.aflacallamerican.com

The Jackie Robinson Award - Presented to the Aflac National High School Player of the Year

Congratulations to the 2007 Aflac National High School Player of the Year Nominees named in honor of the late Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson.

The Jackie Robinson Award is presented annually to the Aflac National High School Player of the Year, the nation's top high school rising senior. Each year six Aflac All-Americans are nominated to receive the Jackie Robinson Award, which is given to the player who demonstrates outstanding character, exhibits leadership, participates in the community and embodies the values of being a student-athlete.

The award will be presented to the nation's top prep baseball player at the annual Aflac All-American Awards Dinner during game week. The inaugural Jackie Robinson Award was presented in August of 2004 to Aflac All-American Justin Upton, a shortstop from Great Bridge High School (Chesapeake, VA). In the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, Upton was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the No. 1 overall selection.

The 2005 Aflac National High School Player of the Year was outfielder Cody Johnson of Mosley High School (Panama City, FL). Cody was selected with the No. 24 pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves.

The 2006 Aflac National High School Player of the Year was Michael Burgess of Hillsborough High School (Tampa, FL). Michael was selected with the 49th pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals.

Jackie Robinson played with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Negro Leagues in 1945. Later that year, in a historic move that ended decades of discrimination against blacks in baseball, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. After a successful season in 1946 with its farm club, the Montreal Royals, he became the first black player in the Major Leagues since the nineteenth century.

Highlights of his career include being named the 1947 Rookie of the Year, the 1949 National League Most Valuable Player and being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Robinson's history-making achievements in baseball were only part of his extraordinary life and legacy. He made his gift for the game into a forum for all of America to engage in a conversation that would leave a lasting impact on almost every facet of our society. His outspoken leadership on issues of civil and human rights continued throughout his years as a corporate executive, civil servant, and major figure in national politics. Jackie’s accomplishments, courage and unbridled quest for fairness will forever be a part of his legacy.

The Jackie Robinson Award will touch future generations of youth baseball through this prestigious honor presented annually to the Aflac National High School Player of the Year.

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