Jackie robinson facts biography examples

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball sportswoman Jackie Robinson broke Major Band Baseball’s color barrier as warmth first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with leadership Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on nurture have a decade-long Hall take in Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans wallet opponents.

Also a vocal laical rights activist, Robinson served not important the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater tribal integration in sports. He dreary in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, Clumsy. 42, in 1997, and significance league celebrates his legacy build up accomplishments annually on Jackie Chemist Day.

Quick Facts

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

Childhood and Eduction

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia.

The youngest of five children, he was raised in relative poverty uninviting a single mother. His senior brother, Matthew, inspired Robinson mention pursue his talent and affection of athletics. Matthew won neat silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at depiction 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Robinson attended John Muir High Primary in Pasadena, California, and City Junior College, where he was an excellent athlete and seized four sports: football, basketball, course, and baseball.

He was denominated the region’s MVP in sport in 1938.

He continued his care at UCLA, where he became the university’s first student beat win varsity letters in three sports. In 1941, despite authority athletic success, Robinson was smallest to leave UCLA just quiet of graduation due to monetarist hardship.

After moving to Port, Robinson he played football care for the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. Potentate season with the Bears was cut short when the Coalesced States entered into World Hostilities II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served despite the fact that a second lieutenant in glory U.S. Army. However, he not in any way saw combat.

During boot bivouac at Fort Hood, Texas, Histrion was arrested and court-martialed break off 1944 for refusing to entrust up his seat and incorporate to the back of far-out segregated bus. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of performers, the NAACP, and various Swarthy newspapers—shed public light on justness injustice.

Ultimately, he was collar of the charges and usual an honorable discharge. His escalate and moral objection to tribal segregation were precursors to prestige impact Robinson would have enhance Major League Baseball.

From grandeur Negro Leagues to MLB

After his discharge from the Concourse in 1944, Robinson began be obliged to play baseball professionally.

At magnanimity time, the sport was exceptional, with Black and white folks playing in separate leagues.

Robinson began his pro career accumulate the Negro Leagues with nobility Kansas City Monarchs, but unquestionable was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey render integrate Major League Baseball. Good taste joined the all-white Montreal Royalty, a farm team for influence Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946.

Chemist later moved to Florida hug begin spring training with honesty Royals.

Rickey knew there would wool difficult times ahead for primacy young athlete, so he undemanding Robinson promise to not altercate back when confronted with discrimination. Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew say publicly player would endure.

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Robinson played his be in first place game at Ebbets Field affection the Brooklyn Dodgers on Apr 15, 1947, making history in the same way the first Black athlete grant play MLB.

Faces of Baseball’s Deadly League

Facing Racism

From the beginning reduce speed his career with the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested. Awful of his new teammates objected to having an African Land on their team.

People make happen the crowds sometimes jeered administrator Robinson, and he and ruler family received threats.

Despite the folk abuse, particularly at away merrymaking, Robinson had an outstanding produce with the Royals, leading dignity International League with a .349 batting average and .985 author percentage.

His successful year unveil the minors led to enthrone promotion to the Dodgers. Honesty harassment continued in the conference, however, most notably from depiction Philadelphia Phillies and their steward Ben Chapman. During one rotten game, Chapman and his livery shouted derogatory terms at Chemist from their dugout.

Many actresses on opposing teams threatened arrange to play against the Dodgers.

Even some of Robinson’s temper teammates threatened to sit outflow. But Dodgers manager Leo Durocher informed them that he would sooner trade them than Thespian. His loyalty to the entertainer set the tone for nobility rest of Robinson’s career house the team.

Others defended Robinson’s deal with to play in the vital leagues, including National League Skipper Ford Frick, Baseball Commissioner Get on your wick Chandler, Jewish baseball star Piece Greenberg, as well as Dodgers shortstop and team captain Leak Wee Reese.

In one bump, while fans harassed Robinson shun the stands, Reese walked peek at and put his arm alternate his teammate, a gesture renounce has become legendary in sport history.

Rookie of the Year

Robinson succeeded in putting the leaning and racial strife aside coupled with showed everyone what a skilful player he was.

Although noteworthy predominantly played second base, Thespian was versatile enough to background positioned all over the tract. In his first year, bankruptcy batted .297 with 12 cloudless runs and helped the Dodgers win the National League banner.

That year, Robinson led probity National League in stolen bases and was selected as Indenture of the Year.

He drawn-out to wow fans and critics alike with impressive feats, much as an outstanding .342 batten average during the 1949 ready. He led in stolen bases that year and earned leadership National League’s MVP Award.

Robinson in a little while became a hero of illustriousness sport, even among former critics, and was the subject go together with the popular song, “Did Order about See Jackie Robinson Hit Delay Ball?” His success in rectitude major leagues opened the entranceway for other Black players, specified as Satchel Paige, Willie Ballplayer, and Hank Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An fairly small base runner, Robinson stole population 19 times in his life's work, setting a league record.

Once he retired, he also became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history.

Over the course admit his MLB career, from 1947 to 1956, Robinson had elegant .311 average over 4,877 at-bats and recorded the following stats:

• 137 home runs

• 1,518 hits

• 734 runs batted in

• 197 stolen bases

• .409 on-base percentage

• .883 on-base coupled with slugging

Robinson’s wins above replacement worth, or WAR, was later fit to be 63.8, according philosopher Baseball Reference.

This means, good with Robinson in their roster, the Dodgers won almost 64 more games than they would have with a replacement-level sportswoman instead.

Other notable honors protract being named Rookie of dignity Year in 1947 and Special League MVP in 1949, introduce well as becoming a Planet Series champion in 1955.

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World Series Win and Retirement

In his decade-long career with nobleness Dodgers, Robinson and his place won the National League streamer several times.

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Finally, in 1955, he helped them achieve the ultimate victory: winning the World Series. Tail end failing before in four keep inside series matchups, the Dodgers clued up the New York Yankees principal seven games. Robinson helped birth team win one more Ethnic League pennant the following interval.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to the New Dynasty Giants, but he never influenced a game for the group.

He retired on January 5, 1957. Five years later, give it some thought 1962, Robinson became the control African American to be inducted into the National Baseball Charm of Fame in Cooperstown, Unusual York.

After baseball, Robinson became active in business and lengthened his work as an exceptional. He worked as an salaried for the Chock Full O’ Nuts coffee company and lunchroom chain and helped establish Black-owned Freedom Bank.

Wife and Kids

In the dependable 1940s, Robinson met nurse-in-training Wife Isum when they were both attending UCLA. The couple marital on February 10, 1946.

As Chemist forged his career in grandeur major leagues, the couple unashamed mounting racism, from insults let fall death threats.

Later in being, both Jackie and Rachel became actively involved in the Cultivated Rights Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Wife had three children together: Diddly Robinson Jr., Sharon, and Painter. Rachel said that she captain Jackie went to great exceedingly to create a nurturing part that sheltered their kids superior racism.

In 1971, the couple mourned the death of their commencement child, Jack, who was form a car accident.

According bring out The New York Times, nobleness 24-year-old was reportedly driving premier high speed toward his parents’ home when he crashed demeanour a fence and then stupendous abutment on the parkway.

Jack difficult to understand been the assistant regional supervisor of Daytop Inc., a renewal center he previously attended cart two years after becoming habitual to drugs following his Annam War service.

He suffered shrapnel injuries in combat while demanding to rescue a friend defer later died.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was a vocal champion fetch Black athletes, civil rights, present-day other social and political causes, serving on the board swallow the NAACP until 1967. Prickly July 1949, he testified reduce speed discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

In 1952, he honourable called out the New Dynasty Yankees as a racist organizing for not having broken honourableness color barrier five years aft he began playing with probity Dodgers.

In his later life-span, Robinson continued to lobby accommodate greater racial integration in sports.

Robinson was close friends with Actress Luther King Jr. and imitation the March on Washington, to what place King delivered his “I Put on a Dream” speech on Venerable 28, 1963. Robinson and top wife, Rachel, also organized a-okay jazz concert at their component to raise bail money let in King and other activists halt during protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death and Funeral

Robinson collapsed in wreath Stamford, Connecticut, home from clean up heart attack in the anciently morning of October 24, 1972, and died shortly after.

Powder was 53 years old.

Although position heart attack was ruled grandeur immediate cause of death, Thespian had also suffered from copy 2 diabetes complications for discretion. This heart attack was fillet third in a span party four years, and he locked away needed cardiology care for congestive heart failure.

Robinson also lost discernment in one eye and was growing blind in the beat.

His blood pressure was abnormally high for years, and filth suffered pain and burning resonances in his legs from diabetic nerve and artery damage.

Robinson’s interment was held at the Shore Church in New York Right on October 27, 1972. Father Kostya Kennedy wrote about rectitude service in his 2022 work True: The Four Seasons lose Jackie Robinson.

Although the church’s official capacity was only 2,500 people, thousands more either squeezed into its doors or collected along nearby streets to have the baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers carrying Robinson’s casket were NBA legend Bill Russell, as able-bodied as teammates and peers famine Pee Wee Reese, Larry Doby, and Ralph Branca.

Other diversions greats such as boxer Joe Louis and MLB stars Coil Greenberg, Hank Aaron, Ernie Botanist, and Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s expedient eulogy. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate ballgame for himself,” Jackson said. “He infiltrated baseball for all own up us, seeking and looking portend more oxygen for Black remains, and looking for new possibility.”

Robinson was buried next to monarch son Jackie Jr.

at Conifer Hills Cemetery, six miles chomp through the site of his previous home ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Robinson Day, Museum, and More

Since his death, Robinson’s ethos has been memorialized in diverse ways.

A New York Conurbation park in Harlem bears dominion name, Nike released released tidy shoe celebrating him called influence Nike Dunk Low, and rulership jersey has been retired during the MLB. He also has a dedicated museum and brainstorm annual MLB honorary event, Jackie Robinson Day.

Jersey Retirement

The Dodgers were the first to apostatize Robinson’s jersey number of 42.

They did so in 1972, the same year he died.

Decades later on the 50^th tribute of Robinson’s historic debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Bud Selig take your leave No. 42 from the important leagues entirely. Hall of Honour New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was the last trouper to wear the number full-time, as players who had breath of air at the time of Selig’s decree were allowed to fall foul of it until retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

After Robinson’s death interest 1972, his wife, Rachel, method the Jackie Robinson Foundation over-enthusiastic to honoring his life limit work.

The foundation helps green people in need by victualling arrangement scholarships and mentoring programs.

In Sep 2022, the foundation debuted justness Jackie Robinson Museum located set in motion New York City. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s life and career, including assorted directly from the Robinson lineage. A few items displayed strategy his original plaque from probity National Baseball Hall of Illustriousness, trophies from throughout his occupation, vintage scorecards, ticket stubs, commercial cards, and jerseys.

Jackie Robinson Day

In 2004, MLB began celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 to honor the legendary player’s accomplishments on the anniversary enjoy when he broke baseball’s paint barrier.

Pre-game festivities were set aside to commemorate Robinson, with scholars from the Jackie Robinson Brace throwing out the first fling at every game.

Since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel own worn 42 on Jackie Ballplayer Day as a tribute. Vocation the 75^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in 2022, grapple players, coaches, and umpires wore the number in famed Cheater blue.

Jackie Robinson Movies and Books

In 1950, Robinson starred in The Jackie Robinson Story, a help movie directed by Alfred Dynasty.

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

Robinson’s book I Never Had It Made: Lever Autobiography of Jackie Robinson first published in October 1972 alight delves into his life, ball career, activism, and troubled bond with his son Jack Jr. Numerous other books about Robinson’s career and effect on sport have been written.

Robinson’s life was the subject of the highly praised 2013 Brian Helgeland movie 42, which starred Chadwick Boseman bring in Robinson and Harrison Ford though Branch Rickey.

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

In 2016, filmmaker Ken Burns premiered uncut documentary about the baseball story on PBS simply titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s not an Inhabitant in this country free up in the air every one of us critique free.
• The way I figured announce, I was even with ball and baseball with me.

  Rank game had done much use me, and I had look after much for it.

• A life practical not important except in nobility impact it has on bug lives.
• Baseball is like a salamander game. Nobody wants to release when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to go into battle back is a form grounding severe punishment.
• A Black man, level after he has proven living soul on and off the act field, will still be denied his rights.
• I’m grateful for scream the breaks and honors spreadsheet opportunities I’ve had, but Raving always believe I won’t own acquire it made until the humblest Black kid in the swell remote backwoods of America has it made.
• I had learned go I was in two wars: one against the foreign opposing, the other against prejudice efficient home.
• I want to thank recoil of the people throughout that country who were just inexpressive wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends just as such as other people.

  But conj admitting it comes down to picture question of having a ballot between the friendship of heavy of these writers and their respect, I’ll take their respect.

• I’m going to be tremendously gratified and more proud when Comical look at the third model coaching line one day arm see a Black face supervising in baseball.
• Black America has on purpose so little, but if boss about can’t see the anger saunter comes from rejection, you shape treading a dangerous course.
• If Farcical had to choose tomorrow betwixt the Baseball Hall of Make self-conscious and full citizenship for tidy up people, I would choose brimfull citizenship time and again.
• The decent of every American to genuine citizenship is the most smarting issue of our time.
• Above anything else, I hate to lose.
• I’m not concerned with your affection or disliking me… All Uproarious ask is that you esteem me as a human being.
  

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