Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson
Harry Warnecke / Frank Livia / Robert F. Cranston / William Klein · CC0 · source
Name	Jackie Robinson
Caption	Robinson in 1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Position	Second baseman
Birth date	31 January 1919
Birth place	Cairo, Georgia, U.S.
Death date	24 October 1972
Death place	Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Debutdate	April 15
Debutyear	1947
Debutteam	Brooklyn Dodgers
Finaldate	October 10
Finalyear	1956
Finalteam	Brooklyn Dodgers
Statleague	MLB
Stat1label	Batting average
Stat1value	.311
Stat2label	Home runs
Stat2value	137
Stat3label	Run batted in
Stat3value	734
Stat4label	Stolen bases
Stat4value	197
Highlights	* All-Star (1949–1954), * World Series champion (1955), * NL Rookie of the Year (1947), * NL MVP (1949), * MLB All-Century Team, * MLB All-Time Team, * No. 42 retired by all MLB teams, * First player to have number retired league-wide

Jackie Robinson. Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. His entry into the National League with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, was a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement, challenging the long-standing racial segregation in professional sports and serving as a symbol of integration and national progress.

Early Life and Baseball Career

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia, and moved with his family to Pasadena, California, as a child. He attended John Muir High School and later Pasadena Junior College, where he excelled in multiple sports. He continued his education and athletic career at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), becoming the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track and field. His college career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. Robinson was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 and attended Officer Candidate School, eventually becoming a second lieutenant. He was honorably discharged in 1944 after facing a court-martial for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus, an early sign of his commitment to challenging Jim Crow laws.

After the war, Robinson began his professional baseball career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. His exceptional talent caught the attention of Branch Rickey, the president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey, seeking to integrate baseball, famously interviewed Robinson in 1945, testing his character and resolve to withstand the inevitable racial abuse. Robinson signed a contract with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' minor league affiliate in the International League, for the 1946 season. His successful season with Montreal, where he led the league in batting average and helped the team win the Junior World Series, proved he was ready for the major leagues.

Breaking the Color Barrier in Major League Baseball

On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, breaking baseball's color barrier. This act was orchestrated by Branch Rickey as part of the "Noble Experiment" to integrate the sport. Robinson's entry was met with significant resistance from some players, fans, and even teammates. He endured vicious racial epithets, death threats, and deliberate attempts to injure him on the field. Following an agreement with Rickey, Robinson initially showed remarkable restraint, channeling his anger into his performance. His talent was undeniable; he won the inaugural National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1947 and was a key player in helping the Dodgers win the National League pennant.

Robinson's success paved the way for other African American players like Larry Doby (who integrated the American League with the Cleveland Indians later in 1947), Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe. His style of play was aggressive and electrifying, revolutionizing the game with his base running and putting constant pressure on opposing defenses. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1949, leading the league in batting average and stolen bases. Over his ten-year career, all with the Dodgers, Robinson was a six-time All-Star, played in six World Series, and was a member of the Dodgers' 1955 championship team. His career batting average was .311, and he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 3

Civil Rights Advocacy and Public Life

Legacy and the American Society

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