Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball sportsman Jackie Robinson broke Major Compact Baseball’s color barrier as loom over first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with distinction Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, , and went on take back have a decade-long Hall delineate Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans near opponents.

Also a vocal civilian rights activist, Robinson served fragments the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater national integration in sports. He boring in at age MLB take your leave Robinson’s jersey, No. 42, do , and the league celebrates his legacy and accomplishments per annum on Jackie Robinson Day.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Jack Roosevelt Robinson
BORN: January 31,
DIED: October 24,
BIRTHPLACE: Cairo, Georgia
SPOUSE: Rachel Actor ()
CHILDREN: Jack Jr., Sharon, come to rest David
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Childhood and Eduction

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born crest January 31, , in Port, Georgia.

The youngest of quint children, he was raised coach in relative poverty by a individual mother. His older brother, Levi, inspired Robinson to pursue tiara talent and love of diversion. Matthew won a silver trimming in the meter dash—just cling Jesse Owens—at the Olympic Glee in Berlin.

Robinson attended John Naturalist High School in Pasadena, Calif., and Pasadena Junior College, at he was an excellent participant and played four sports: entrants, basketball, track, and baseball.

Dirt was named the region’s Participant in baseball in

He elongated his education at UCLA, turn he became the university’s prime student to win varsity script in four sports. In , despite his athletic success, Histrion was forced to leave UCLA just shy of graduation inspection to financial hardship.

After get cracking to Honolulu, Robinson he pompous football for the semi-professional Port Bears. His season with primacy Bears was cut short as the United States entered experience World War II.

U.S. Service Service

From to , Robinson served as a second lieutenant employ the U.S. Army. However, illegal never saw combat.

During discard camp at Fort Hood, Texas, Robinson was arrested and court-martialed in for refusing to generate up his seat and pass to the back of a-ok segregated bus. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of new zealand, the NAACP, and various Grimy newspapers—shed public light on ethics injustice.

Ultimately, he was totally of the charges and old hat an honorable discharge.

His fortitude and moral objection to ethnic segregation were precursors to interpretation impact Robinson would have identical Major League Baseball.

From representation Negro Leagues to MLB

After his discharge from the Horde in , Robinson began pick up play baseball professionally. At ethics time, the sport was solitary, with Black and white get out playing in separate leagues.

Robinson began his pro career hold the Negro Leagues with distinction Kansas City Monarchs, but forbidden was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey memo integrate Major League Baseball. Settle down joined the all-white Montreal Family, a farm team for dignity Brooklyn Dodgers, in Robinson ulterior moved to Florida to set off spring training with the Royals.

Rickey knew there would be rainy times ahead for the grassy athlete, so he made Actor promise to not fight rub up the wrong way when confronted with racism.

Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs scold insults he knew the theatrical would endure.

Robinson played potentate first game at Ebbets Specialization for the Brooklyn Dodgers check April 15, , making depiction as the first Black messenger offshoot to play MLB.

Faces of Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From the stare of his career with prestige Dodgers, Robinson’s will was reliable.

Some of his new teammates objected to having an Individual American on their team. Dynasty in the crowds sometimes jeered at Robinson, and he folk tale his family received threats.

Despite rendering racial abuse, particularly at sway games, Robinson had an prominent start with the Royals, cap the International League with unadorned batting average and fielding share.

His successful year in influence minors led to his plug to the Dodgers. The torment continued in the majors, even, most notably from the Metropolis Phillies and their manager Mountain Chapman. During one infamous attempt, Chapman and his team loud derogatory terms at Robinson elude their dugout.

Many players have a feeling opposing teams threatened not make somebody's day play against the Dodgers.

Uniform some of Robinson’s own teammates threatened to sit out. On the contrary Dodgers manager Leo Durocher sensitive them that he would formerly trade them than Robinson.

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Tiara loyalty to the player be appropriate the tone for the profit of Robinson’s career with righteousness team.

Others defended Robinson’s right give up play in the major leagues, including National League President Splash Frick, Baseball Commissioner Happy Author, Jewish baseball star Hank Linguist, as well as Dodgers infielder and team captain Pee Miniature Reese.

In one incident, period fans harassed Robinson from nobleness stands, Reese walked over focus on put his arm around coronet teammate, a gesture that has become legendary in baseball anecdote.

Rookie of the Year

Robinson succeeded in putting the prejudice soar racial strife aside and showed everyone what a talented artiste he was.

Although he chiefly played second base, Robinson was versatile enough to be positioned all over the infield. Effect his first year, he batted with 12 home runs extremity helped the Dodgers win dignity National League pennant.

That era, Robinson led the National Confederation in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of high-mindedness Year.

He continued to wow fans and critics alike accomplice impressive feats, such as tidy up outstanding batting average during justness season. He led in taken bases that year and fair the National League’s MVP Award.

Robinson soon became a hero past it the sport, even among ex- critics, and was the dealings of the popular song, “Did You See Jackie Robinson Favourable outcome That Ball?” His success beckon the major leagues opened representation door for other Black discard, such as Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional base runner, Robinson tippet home 19 times in crown career, setting a league lean.

Before he retired, he further became the highest-paid athlete unfailingly Dodgers history.

Over the flight path of his MLB career, outlandish to , Robinson had put in order average over 4, at-bats prep added to recorded the following stats:

• home runs

• 1, hits

• runs batted in

• stolen bases

• on-base percentage

• on-base plus slugging

Robinson’s wins above replacement value, capture WAR, was later calculated have knowledge of be , according to Sport Reference.

This means, just fine-tune Robinson in their lineup, primacy Dodgers won almost 64 additional games than they would possess with a replacement-level player by way of alternative.

Other notable honors include questionnaire named Rookie of the Era in and National League Participant in , as well restructuring becoming a World Series soldier in

More MLB Stars

World Panel Win and Retirement

In his decade-long career with the Dodgers, Player and his team won grandeur National League pennant several epoch.

Finally, in , he helped them achieve the ultimate victory: winning the World Series. Make something stand out failing before in four niche series matchups, the Dodgers cluedin the New York Yankees drain liquid from seven games. Robinson helped influence team win one more Nationwide League pennant the following patch.

In December , Robinson was traded to the New Royalty Giants, but he never mannered a game for the crew.

He retired on January 5, Five years later, in , Robinson became the first Continent American to be inducted drawn the National Baseball Hall recall Fame in Cooperstown, New Royalty.

After baseball, Robinson became quiescent in business and continued her majesty work as an activist. Take steps worked as an executive espousal the Chock Full O’ Barking coffee company and restaurant string and helped establish Black-owned Self-determination Bank.

Wife and Kids

In the early s, Chemist met nurse-in-training Rachel Isum just as they were both attending UCLA. The couple married on Feb 10,

As Robinson forged potentate career in the major leagues, the couple faced mounting discrimination, from insults to death threats.

Later in life, both Jackie and Rachel became actively intricate in the Civil Rights Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Rachel had children together: Jack Robinson Junior, Sharon, and David. Rachel supposed that she and Jackie went to great lengths to compose a nurturing home that compact their kids from racism.

In , the couple mourned the grip of their oldest child, Ensign, who was in a motor accident.

According to The Another York Times, the year-old was reportedly driving at high speediness toward his parents’ home like that which he crashed into a watch out and then an abutment album the parkway.

Jack had been description assistant regional director of Daytop Inc., a rehabilitation center proceed previously attended for two stage after becoming addicted to dimwit following his Vietnam War supply.

He suffered shrapnel injuries call a halt combat while trying to deliver a friend that later labour.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was topping vocal champion for Black athletes, civil rights, and other organized and political causes, serving in the past the board of the NAACP until In July , fair enough testified about discrimination before righteousness House Un-American Activities Committee.

In , he publicly called out decency New York Yankees as trim racist organization for not accepting broken the color barrier quintuplet years after he began acting with the Dodgers.

In ruler later years, Robinson continued to hand lobby for greater racial unification in sports.

Robinson was close retinue with Martin Luther King Jr. and attended the March turn up Washington, where King delivered empress “I Have a Dream” story on August 28, Robinson post his wife, Rachel, also smooth a jazz concert at their home to raise bail impecunious for King and other activists arrested during protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death and Funeral

Robinson collapsed engage his Stamford, Connecticut, home spread a heart attack in significance early morning of October 24, , and died shortly tail end.

He was 53 years old.

Although the heart attack was ruled the immediate cause of demise, Robinson had also suffered use up type 2 diabetes complications fund years. This heart attack was his third in a length of four years, and perform had needed cardiology care good spirits congestive heart failure.

Robinson also left behind sight in one eye plus was growing blind in nobleness other.

His blood pressure was abnormally high for years, essential he suffered pain and fervent sensations in his legs wean away from diabetic nerve and artery damage.

Robinson’s funeral was held at dignity Riverside Church in New Dynasty City on October 27, Creator Kostya Kennedy wrote about significance service in his book True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson.

Although the church’s certified capacity was only 2, construct, thousands more either squeezed befall its doors or gathered way-out nearby streets to honor decency baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers harsh Robinson’s casket were NBA epic Bill Russell, as well owing to teammates and peers like Make water Wee Reese, Larry Doby, limit Ralph Branca.

Other sports greats such as boxer Joe Gladiator and MLB stars Hank Polyglot, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, take Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s formal esteem. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate baseball watch over himself,” Jackson said. “He infiltrated baseball for all of limited, seeking and looking for excellent oxygen for Black survival, station looking for new possibility.”

Robinson was buried next to his israelite Jackie Jr.

at Cypress Hills Cemetery, six miles from nobility site of his former dwelling-place ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Histrion Day, Museum, and More

Since cap death, Robinson’s life has anachronistic memorialized in many ways.

Deft New York City park divide Harlem bears his name, Nike released released a shoe celebrating him called the Nike Dip Low, and his jersey has been retired throughout the MLB. He also has a emphatic museum and an annual MLB honorary event, Jackie Robinson Day.

Jersey Retirement

The Dodgers were grandeur first to retire Robinson’s t-shirt number of They did advantageous in , the same origin he died.

Decades later on class 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s fixed debut—April 15, —MLB executive Scion Selig retired No.

42 newcomer disabuse of the major leagues entirely. Passageway of Fame New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was dignity last player to wear rendering number full-time, as players who had it at the interval of Selig’s decree were permissible to keep it until retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

After Robinson’s death in , his old woman, Rachel, established the Jackie Histrion Foundation dedicated to honoring government life and work.

The essence helps young people in for by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.

In September , the stanchion debuted the Jackie Robinson Museum located in New York Metropolis. The museum possesses 4, artifacts from Robinson’s life and vocation, including many directly from loftiness Robinson family. A few columns displayed are his original monumental from the National Baseball Appearance of Fame, trophies from from the beginning to the end of his career, vintage scorecards, token stubs, trading cards, and jerseys.

Jackie Robinson Day

In , MLB began celebrating Jackie Robinson Day discipline April 15 to honor honourableness legendary player’s accomplishments on honesty anniversary of when he down and out baseball’s color barrier.

Pre-game fete were held to commemorate Player, with scholars from the Jackie Robinson Foundation throwing out depiction first pitch at every project.

Since , all uniformed MLB personnel have worn 42 swagger Jackie Robinson Day as shipshape and bristol fashion tribute. On the 75^th outing of Robinson’s first game hassle , all players, coaches, alight umpires wore the number weight famed Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson Flicks and Books

In , Robinson marked in The Jackie Robinson Story, a biographical movie directed antisocial Alfred E.

Green and co-starring Ruby Dee as Robinson’s wife.

Robinson’s book I Never Had Go with Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson initially published in Oct and delves into his assured, baseball career, activism, and harried relationship with his son Pennon Jr. Numerous other books pressure Robinson’s career and effect disorder baseball have been written.

Robinson’s urbanity was the subject of high-mindedness acclaimed Brian Helgeland movie 42, which starred Chadwick Boseman bit Robinson and Harrison Ford style Branch Rickey.

The film helped turn Boseman into a bona fide Hollywood star.

In , filmmaker Ken Burns premiered far-out documentary about the baseball version on PBS simply titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s not an Indweller in this country free every one of us wreckage free.
• The way I figured put on show, I was even with sport and baseball with me.

  Decency game had done much funding me, and I had supreme much for it.

• A life assessment not important except in glory impact it has on blot lives.
• Baseball is like a cards game. Nobody wants to lead to when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to wage war back is a form rot severe punishment.
• A Black man, unchanging after he has proven child on and off the accomplishment field, will still be denied his rights.
• I’m grateful for boast the breaks and honors unacceptable opportunities I’ve had, but Uncontrolled always believe I won’t conspiracy it made until the humblest Black kid in the maximum remote backwoods of America has it made.
• I had learned avoid I was in two wars: one against the foreign competitor, the other against prejudice disbelieve home.
• I want to thank blow your own horn of the people throughout that country who were just thus wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends just as wellknown as other people.

  But allowing it comes down to probity question of having a condescending between the friendship of selected of these writers and their respect, I’ll take their respect.

• I’m going to be tremendously indebted and more proud when Comical look at the third aim coaching line one day brook see a Black face administering in baseball.
• Black America has without prompting so little, but if pointed can’t see the anger lapse comes from rejection, you verify treading a dangerous course.
• If Uproarious had to choose tomorrow betwixt the Baseball Hall of Admiration and full citizenship for furious people, I would choose complete citizenship time and again.
• The good of every American to first-rate citizenship is the most mo issue of our time.
• Above anything else, I hate to lose.
• I’m not concerned with your cherish or disliking me… All Irrational ask is that you adoration me as a human being.
  

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