Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Spring Valley: 1  Illinois Valley Community College (about 6 miles; Oglesby, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,747). 2  Kishwaukee College (about 46 miles; Malta, IL; FT enrollment: 3,356). 3  Illinois Central College (about 47 miles; East Peoria, IL; FT enrollment: 7,158).
Breaking the Color Barrier. After his discharge from the Army in 1944, Robinson began to play baseball professionally. At the time, the sport was segregated, and African-Americans and whites played in separate leagues.
Jack Roosevelt Jackie Robinson (January 31, 1919 â October 24, 1972) was the first African-American Major League Baseball (MLB) player of modern times. Robinson broke the baseball color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was the first black man to openly play in the major leagues since the 1880s. He had a big role in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball.