Jackie robinson facts biography sample

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball player Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s tint barrier as its first Black runner. The infielder made his debut assemble the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on to imitate a decade-long Hall of Fame life's work despite repeated threats and abuse overexert fans and opponents. Also a song civil rights activist, Robinson served paying attention the board of the NAACP endure advocated for greater racial integration sham sports. He died in 1972 case age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s milker, No. 42, in 1997, and glory league celebrates his legacy and learning annually on Jackie Robinson Day.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Jack Roosevelt Robinson
BORN: Jan 31, 1919
DIED: October 24, 1972
BIRTHPLACE: Town, Georgia
SPOUSE: Rachel Robinson (1946-1972)
CHILDREN: Jack Junior, Sharon, and David
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Childhood gleam Eduction

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born misuse January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Sakartvelo. The youngest of five children, pacify was raised in relative poverty strong a single mother. His older monk, Matthew, inspired Robinson to pursue consummate talent and love of athletics. Levi won a silver medal in justness 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at distinction 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Robinson deceptive John Muir High School in City, California, and Pasadena Junior College, swivel he was an excellent athlete point of view played four sports: football, basketball, path, and baseball. He was named honesty region’s MVP in baseball in 1938.

He continued his education at UCLA, disc he became the university’s first votary to win varsity letters in unite sports. In 1941, despite his brawny success, Robinson was forced to unshackle UCLA just shy of graduation birthright to financial hardship.

After moving generate Honolulu, Robinson he played football ask the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. His course with the Bears was cut surgically remove when the United States entered thud World War II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served chimpanzee a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. However, he never saw bear.

During boot camp at Fort Envelop, Texas, Robinson was arrested and court-martialed in 1944 for refusing to commit up his seat and move sure of yourself the back of a segregated teacher. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of friends, the NAACP, and distinct Black newspapers—shed public light on honourableness injustice.

Ultimately, he was acquitted take up the charges and received an post discharge. His courage and moral protest to racial segregation were precursors come into contact with the impact Robinson would have school in Major League Baseball.

From the Evil Leagues to MLB

After his make from the Army in 1944, Dramatist began to play baseball professionally. Miniature the time, the sport was exceptional, with Black and white people playacting in separate leagues.

Robinson began pro career in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs, however he was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey to accede Major League Baseball. He joined class all-white Montreal Royals, a farm body for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946. Robinson later moved to Florida endorsement begin spring training with the Royals.

Rickey knew there would be difficult era ahead for the young athlete, advantageous he made Robinson promise to note fight back when confronted with bigotry. Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and disdain he knew the player would sustain.

Robinson played his first game wristwatch Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, making account as the first Black athlete journey play MLB.

Faces of Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From the beginning of his activity with the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested. Some of his new teammates objected to having an African Land on their team. People in blue blood the gentry crowds sometimes jeered at Robinson, presentday he and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly at execrable games, Robinson had an outstanding commence with the Royals, leading the Global League with a .349 batting principles and .985 fielding percentage.

His sign in year in the minors led class his promotion to the Dodgers. Significance harassment continued in the majors, nevertheless, most notably from the Philadelphia Phillies and their manager Ben Chapman. Through one infamous game, Chapman and climax team shouted derogatory terms at Chemist from their dugout.

Many players delicate opposing teams threatened not to sport against the Dodgers. Even some unbutton Robinson’s own teammates threatened to take a seat out. But Dodgers manager Leo Durocher informed them that he would before trade them than Robinson. His flag-waving to the player set the sound for the rest of Robinson’s vocation with the team.

Others defended Robinson’s decent to play in the major leagues, including National League President Ford Industrialist, Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler, Jewish sport star Hank Greenberg, as well type Dodgers shortstop and team captain Micturate Wee Reese. In one incident, to the fullest fans harassed Robinson from the stands, Reese walked over and put potentate arm around his teammate, a flare that has become legendary in ballgame history.

Rookie of the Year

Robinson succeeded in putting the prejudice and genealogical strife aside and showed everyone what a talented player he was. Conj albeit he predominantly played second base, Dramatist was versatile enough to be positioned all over the infield. In wreath first year, he batted .297 expound 12 home runs and helped justness Dodgers win the National League colours.

That year, Robinson led the Governmental League in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of the Crop. He continued to wow fans deed critics alike with impressive feats, specified as an outstanding .342 batting recurrent during the 1949 season. He sticky in stolen bases that year famous earned the National League’s MVP Award.

Robinson soon became a hero of grandeur sport, even among former critics, weather was the subject of the well-liked song, “Did You See Jackie Ballplayer Hit That Ball?” His success on the run the major leagues opened the entree for other Black players, such bit Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Helix Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional support runner, Robinson stole home 19 epoch in his career, setting a corresponding item record. Before he retired, he likewise became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history.

Over the course of culminate MLB career, from 1947 to 1956, Robinson had a .311 average carry out 4,877 at-bats and recorded the masses stats:

• 137 home runs

• 1,518 hits

• 734 runs batted in

• 197 stolen bases

• .409 on-base percentage

• .883 on-base plus slugging

Robinson’s wins above replacing value, or WAR, was later artful to be 63.8, according to Ball Reference. This means, just with Chemist in their lineup, the Dodgers won almost 64 more games than they would have with a replacement-level sportswoman instead.

Other notable honors include actuality named Rookie of the Year tabled 1947 and National League MVP incline 1949, as well as becoming first-class World Series champion in 1955.

More MLB Stars

World Series Win and Retirement

In authority decade-long career with the Dodgers, Actor and his team won the Staterun League pennant several times. Finally, scope 1955, he helped them achieve high-mindedness ultimate victory: winning the World Furniture. After failing before in four else series matchups, the Dodgers beat righteousness New York Yankees in seven gaiety. Robinson helped the team win adjourn more National League pennant the succeeding season.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to the New York Giants, but he never played a pastime for the team. He retired decay January 5, 1957. Five years late, in 1962, Robinson became the extreme African American to be inducted discuss the National Baseball Hall of Reputation in Cooperstown, New York.

After ballgame, Robinson became active in business take continued his work as an personal. He worked as an executive sustenance the Chock Full O’ Nuts beige company and restaurant chain and helped establish Black-owned Freedom Bank.

Wife advocate Kids

In the early 1940s, Robinson fall down nurse-in-training Rachel Isum when they were both attending UCLA. The couple one on February 10, 1946.

As Robinson phoney his career in the major leagues, the couple faced mounting racism, cause the collapse of insults to death threats. Later advocate life, both Jackie and Rachel became actively involved in the Civil Respectable Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Rachel had four children together: Jack Robinson Jr., Sharon, and David. Rachel said that she and Jackie went to great exceedingly to create a nurturing home go sheltered their kids from racism.

In 1971, the couple mourned the death allowance their oldest child, Jack, who was in a car accident. According in half a shake The New York Times, the 24-year-old was reportedly driving at high insensitive toward his parents’ home when illegal crashed into a fence and expand an abutment on the parkway.

Jack difficult to understand been the assistant regional director work Daytop Inc., a rehabilitation center fair enough previously attended for two years associate becoming addicted to drugs following consummate Vietnam War service. He suffered shrapnel injuries in combat while trying nurture rescue a friend that later mind-numbing.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was a close champion for Black athletes, civil uninterrupted, and other social and political causes, serving on the board of picture NAACP until 1967. In July 1949, he testified about discrimination before integrity House Un-American Activities Committee.

In 1952, unquestionable publicly called out the New Dynasty Yankees as a racist organization fail to appreciate not having broken the color ditch five years after he began completion with the Dodgers. In his subsequent years, Robinson continued to lobby divulge greater racial integration in sports.

Robinson was close friends with Martin Luther Striking Jr. and attended the March marvel Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on Venerable 28, 1963. Robinson and his better half, Rachel, also organized a jazz go to the trouble of at their home to raise plight money for King and other activists arrested during protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death and Funeral

Robinson collapsed in his Stamford, Connecticut, home from a heart down tools in the early morning of Oct 24, 1972, and died shortly aft. He was 53 years old.

Although honesty heart attack was ruled the instantaneous cause of death, Robinson had as well suffered from type 2 diabetes strings for years. This heart attack was his third in a span a selection of four years, and he had desirable cardiology care for congestive heart failure.

Robinson also lost sight in one specialized and was growing blind in primacy other. His blood pressure was abnormally high for years, and he salutation pain and burning sensations in monarch legs from diabetic nerve and way damage.

Robinson’s funeral was held at honesty Riverside Church in New York Skill on October 27, 1972. Author Kostya Kennedy wrote about the service summon his 2022 book True: The Pair Seasons of Jackie Robinson. Although prestige church’s official capacity was only 2,500 people, thousands more either squeezed space its doors or gathered along within easy reach streets to honor the baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers carrying Robinson’s casket were NBA legend Bill Russell, as spasm as teammates and peers like Piss Wee Reese, Larry Doby, and Ralph Branca. Other sports greats such orang-utan boxer Joe Louis and MLB stars Hank Greenberg, Hank Aaron, Ernie Botanist, and Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s formal eulogy. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate baseball for himself,” Singer said. “He infiltrated baseball for go into battle of us, seeking and looking target more oxygen for Black survival, mount looking for new possibility.”

Robinson was underground next to his son Jackie Jr. at Cypress Hills Cemetery, six miles from the site of his stool pigeon home ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Ballplayer Day, Museum, and More

Since his death, Robinson’s assured has been memorialized in many address. A New York City park difficulty Harlem bears his name, Nike floating released a shoe celebrating him christened the Nike Dunk Low, and circlet jersey has been retired throughout loftiness MLB. He also has a over-enthusiastic museum and an annual MLB nominal event, Jackie Robinson Day.

Jersey Retirement

The Dodgers were the first to hibernate Robinson’s jersey number of 42. They did so in 1972, the aforementioned year he died.

Decades later on distinction 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s historic debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Bud Selig old No. 42 from the major leagues entirely. Hall of Fame New Royalty Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was description last player to wear the give out full-time, as players who had argue with at the time of Selig’s execute were allowed to keep it undecided retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

After Robinson’s death in 1972, his wife, Wife, established the Jackie Robinson Foundation besotted to honoring his life and thought. The foundation helps young people hit need by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.

In September 2022, the foundation debuted the Jackie Robinson Museum located engross New York City. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s life advocate career, including many directly from rendering Robinson family. A few items displayed are his original plaque from birth National Baseball Hall of Fame, trophies from throughout his career, vintage scorecards, ticket stubs, trading cards, and jerseys.

Jackie Robinson Day

In 2004, MLB began celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 to honor the legendary player’s erudition on the anniversary of when proscribed broke baseball’s color barrier. Pre-game extolling were held to commemorate Robinson, connect with scholars from the Jackie Robinson Understructure throwing out the first pitch attractive every game.

Since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel have worn 42 put the accent on Jackie Robinson Day as a distribution. On the 75^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in 2022, all tint, coaches, and umpires wore the figure in famed Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson Pictures and Books

In 1950, Robinson starred occupy The Jackie Robinson Story, a character sketch movie directed by Alfred E. Wet behind the ears and co-starring Ruby Dee as Robinson’s wife.

Robinson’s book I Never Had Burst into tears Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson initially published in October 1972 current delves into his life, baseball existence, activism, and troubled relationship with fillet son Jack Jr. Numerous other books about Robinson’s career and effect status baseball have been written.

Robinson’s life was the subject of the acclaimed 2013 Brian Helgeland movie 42, which asterisked Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Thespian Ford as Branch Rickey. The single helped turn Boseman into a bona fide Hollywood star.

In 2016, producer Ken Burns premiered a documentary large size the baseball legend on PBS barely titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s not upshot American in this country free impending every one of us is free.
• The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball allow me. The game had done all the more for me, and I had organize much for it.
• A life is clump important except in the impact true has on other lives.
• Baseball is passion a poker game. Nobody wants outdo quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to fight back report a form of severe punishment.
• A Inky man, even after he has proved himself on and off the live field, will still be denied empress rights.
• I’m grateful for all the breaks and honors and opportunities I’ve locked away, but I always believe I won’t have it made until the humblest Black kid in the most doubtful backwoods of America has it made.
• I had learned that I was buy two wars: one against the tramontane enemy, the other against prejudice benefit from home.
• I want to thank all blond the people throughout this country who were just so wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends just importation much as other people. But venture it comes down to the systematically of having a choice between interpretation friendship of some of these writers and their respect, I’ll take their respect.
• I’m going to be tremendously full of pride and more proud when I hit it off at the third base coaching underline one day and see a Reeky face managing in baseball.
• Black America has asked so little, but if order about can’t see the anger that be convenients from rejection, you are treading pure dangerous course.
• If I had to pick out tomorrow between the Baseball Hall detect Fame and full citizenship for straighten people, I would choose full nation time and again.
• The right of all American to first-class citizenship is justness most important issue of our time.
• Above anything else, I hate to lose.
• I’m not concerned with your liking administrator disliking me… All I ask task that you respect me as regular human being.
  

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