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.
Robinson became the first African-American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility. In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his historic first game in the majors, Robinsonâs uniform numberâ42âwas retired by Major League Baseball.