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Today marks the 72nd anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he penciled into the starting lineup for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In tribute, former MLBer and ESPN commentator Doug Glanville narrated a short video piece featuring stunning visuals.

Sand artist Joe Castillo pays tribute to No. 42 Jackie Robinson

The sand-art animation, which features Robinson sliding safely into home plate, is the work of Joe Castillo who first rocketed to fame on America’s Got Talent.

NEVER-ENDING FIRSTS

Robinson’s life reads like a chronicle of firsts. Aside from being the first black player in MLB, he became the league’s first black television analyst, and later was the first black vice president of a major corporation, Chock Full o’Nuts (the formerly popular coffee brand).

In 2017, the Dodgers unveiled a statue of Robinson, the first to grace their stadium in its 55-year history. On hand for the ceremony was long-time Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully; pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Newcombe — who were Robinson’s teammates during the team’s World Series-winning campaign in 1955 — and current Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson.

FORTY-TWO IN SPACE

In 2015, astronaut Terry Virts, orbiting Earth in the International Space Station, donned a No. 42 Dodgers jersey in honor of Robinson’s courage. He posted photographic proof positive to Twitter, complete with floating baseball.

With Virts’ tribute, Robinson became the first baseball player to have his uniform worn in space.

THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY

See how many other additional firsts you can glean while watching 1950’s The Jackie Robinson Story, the first of several movies that were made about the baseball legend.