Athletes born on January 31

Take a focused look at the athletes born on January 31. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 1919 Jackie Robinson

  Jackie Robinson was an American professional baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947 when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in the modern MLB. [bio]

• 1931 Ernie Banks

  Ernie Banks was an American professional baseball player and Hall of Famer, best known for his long career with the Chicago Cubs and for his infectious enthusiasm, often cited by his saying 'Let's play two!' He is regarded as one of the greatest power-hitting shortstops in MLB history. [bio]