Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. No cause of death was immediately available.
All players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear No. 42 on Thursday to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. In 1947, Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut and broke the sport’s color barrier.
The sports world is reacting to the death of former Georgetown coach John Thompson. He was a Hall of Famer and the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s Division I basketball championship.