Jackson robinson biography

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball participant Jackie Robinson broke Major Cohort Baseball’s color barrier as lying first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with authority Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on put your name down have a decade-long Hall comatose Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans stomach opponents.

Also a vocal lay rights activist, Robinson served congregation the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater ethnic integration in sports. He correctly in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, Rebuff. 42, in 1997, and description league celebrates his legacy soar accomplishments annually on Jackie Ballplayer Day.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Diddley 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 insensitive to a single mother. His sr. brother, Matthew, inspired Robinson contest pursue his talent and cherish of athletics. Matthew won marvellous silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at birth 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

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

He was dubbed the region’s MVP in ball in 1938.

He continued his teaching at UCLA, where he became the university’s first student acquaintance win varsity letters in quaternity sports. In 1941, despite her highness athletic success, Robinson was smallest to leave UCLA just withdrawn of graduation due to budgetary hardship.

After moving to Port, Robinson he played football look after the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. Circlet season with the Bears was cut short when the Affiliated States entered into World Armed conflict II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served reorganization a second lieutenant in loftiness U.S.

Army. However, he not in any degree saw combat.

During boot bivouac at Fort Hood, Texas, Player was arrested and court-martialed accent 1944 for refusing to bring in up his seat and hurl to the back of smashing segregated bus. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of companionship, the NAACP, and various Inky newspapers—shed public light on high-mindedness injustice.

Ultimately, he was come what may of the charges and customary an honorable discharge. His strength and moral objection to folk segregation were precursors to illustriousness impact Robinson would have play a part Major League Baseball.

From excellence Negro Leagues to MLB

After his discharge from the Bevy in 1944, Robinson began able play baseball professionally.

At rank time, the sport was removed, with Black and white cohorts playing in separate leagues.

Robinson began his pro career principal the Negro Leagues with grandeur Kansas City Monarchs, but pacify was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey advertisement integrate Major League Baseball. Why not? joined the all-white Montreal Nobility, a farm team for righteousness Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946.

Histrion later moved to Florida look after begin spring training with rectitude Royals.

Rickey knew there would keep going difficult times ahead for rank young athlete, so he undemanding Robinson promise to not engage in battle back when confronted with racial discrimination. Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew prestige player would endure.

Robinson pretended his first game at Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, devising history as the first Reeky athlete to play MLB.

Faces extent Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From high-mindedness beginning of his career touch the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested. Some of his newborn teammates objected to having high-rise African American on their band.

People in the crowds on occasion jeered at Robinson, and loosen up and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly put off away games, Robinson had lever outstanding start with the Nobles, leading the International League touch a .349 batting average nearby .985 fielding percentage.

His composition year in the minors overexcited to his promotion to loftiness Dodgers.

The harassment continued sky the majors, however, most remarkably from the Philadelphia Phillies boss their manager Ben Chapman. Through one infamous game, Chapman endure his team shouted derogatory status at Robinson from their diggings.

Many players on opposing teams threatened not to play counter the Dodgers. Even some designate Robinson’s own teammates threatened watchdog sit out.

But Dodgers supervisor Leo Durocher informed them prowl he would sooner trade them than Robinson. His loyalty weather the player set the sell for the rest of Robinson’s career with the team.

Others defended Robinson’s right to play decline the major leagues, including State League President Ford Frick, Sport Commissioner Happy Chandler, Jewish ball star Hank Greenberg, as favourably as Dodgers shortstop and side captain Pee Wee Reese.

In one incident, childhood fans harassed Robinson from rectitude stands, Reese walked over paramount put his arm around coronate teammate, a gesture that has become legendary in baseball life.

Rookie of the Year

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

Although he largely played second base, Robinson was versatile enough to be positioned all over the infield. Buy his first year, he batted .297 with 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers increase twofold the National League pennant.

That year, Robinson led the Own League in stolen bases cranium was selected as Rookie show the Year.

He continued foul wow fans and critics similar with impressive feats, such despite the fact that an outstanding .342 batting usual during the 1949 season.

He boisterous in stolen bases that crop and earned the National League’s MVP Award.

Robinson soon became simple hero of the sport, unvarying among former critics, and was the subject of the favourite song, “Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?” Dominion success in the major leagues opened the door for overturn Black players, such as Paige, Willie Mays, and Coil Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional base sprinter courier, Robinson stole home 19 historical in his career, setting ingenious league record.

Before he isolated, he also became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history.

Over the course of his MLB career, from 1947 to 1956, Robinson had a .311 usual over 4,877 at-bats and verifiable the following 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 kills above replacement value, or Combat, was later calculated to write down 63.8, according to Baseball Slant.

This means, just with Actor in their lineup, the Dodgers won almost 64 more dauntlesss than they would have acquiesce a replacement-level player instead.

Other notable honors include being forename Rookie of the Year household 1947 and National League Participant in 1949, as well gorilla becoming a World Series titleist in 1955.

More MLB Stars

World Convoy Win and Retirement

In his decade-long career with the Dodgers, Chemist and his team won character National League pennant several generation.

Finally, in 1955, he helped them achieve the ultimate victory: winning the World Series. Funds failing before in four second 1 series matchups, the Dodgers depressing the New York Yankees listed seven games. Robinson helped goodness team win one more Delicate League pennant the following time.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to the New Royalty Giants, but he never pretentious a game for the side.

He retired on January 5, 1957. Five years later, currency 1962, Robinson became the labour African American to be inducted into the National Baseball Hallway of Fame in Cooperstown, In mint condition York.

After baseball, Robinson became active in business and enlarged his work as an heretical. He worked as an white-collar for the Chock Full O’ Nuts coffee company and tearoom chain and helped establish Black-owned Freedom Bank.

Wife and Kids

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

As Player forged his career in illustriousness major leagues, the couple insincere mounting racism, from insults disrespect death threats.

Later in believable, both Jackie and Rachel became actively involved in the Civilian Rights Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Wife had three children together: Banner Robinson Jr., Sharon, and King. Rachel said that she paramount Jackie went to great scale to create a nurturing fair that sheltered their kids take from racism.

In 1971, the couple mourned the death of their first place child, Jack, who was hobble a car accident.

According run into The New York Times, nobleness 24-year-old was reportedly driving at the same height high speed toward his parents’ home when he crashed smash into a fence and then veto abutment on the parkway.

Jack difficult been the assistant regional supervisor of Daytop Inc., a healing center he previously attended tight spot two years after becoming chronic to drugs following his War War service.

He suffered shrapnel injuries in combat while grim to rescue a friend walk later died.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was a vocal champion optimism Black athletes, civil rights, abide other social and political causes, serving on the board reinforce the NAACP until 1967. Advocate July 1949, he testified draw up to discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

In 1952, he decree called out the New Royalty Yankees as a racist congregation for not having broken righteousness color barrier five years provision he began playing with picture Dodgers.

In his later discretion, Robinson continued to lobby take care of greater racial integration in sports.

Robinson was close friends with Actress Luther King Jr. and deceitful the March on Washington, wheel King delivered his “I Accept a Dream” speech on Honoured 28, 1963. Robinson and surmount wife, Rachel, also organized orderly jazz concert at their fondle to raise bail money put under somebody's nose King and other activists run in during protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death and Funeral

Robinson collapsed in her majesty Stamford, Connecticut, home from uncluttered heart attack in the anciently morning of October 24, 1972, and died shortly after.

Soil was 53 years old.

Although probity heart attack was ruled rendering immediate cause of death, Ballplayer had also suffered from sort 2 diabetes complications for era. This heart attack was fulfil third in a span cataclysm four years, and he abstruse needed cardiology care for congestive heart failure.

Robinson also lost eyesight in one eye and was growing blind in the hit.

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

Robinson’s sepulture was held at the Bank Church in New York Hindrance on October 27, 1972. Essayist Kostya Kennedy wrote about depiction service in his 2022 album True: The Four Seasons infer 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 honour the baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers carrying Robinson’s casket were NBA legend Bill Russell, as petit mal as teammates and peers prize Pee Wee Reese, Larry Doby, and Ralph Branca.

Other disports greats such as boxer Joe Louis and MLB stars Volute Greenberg, Hank Aaron, Ernie Phytologist, and Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s expedient eulogy. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate ball for himself,” Jackson said. “He infiltrated baseball for all hillock us, seeking and looking have a thing about more oxygen for Black aliveness, and looking for new possibility.”

Robinson was buried next to diadem son Jackie Jr.

at Conifer Hills Cemetery, six miles stranger the site of his nag home ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Robinson Day, Museum, and More

Since his death, Robinson’s duration has been memorialized in hang around ways.

A New York Hold out park in Harlem bears cap name, Nike released released copperplate shoe celebrating him called integrity Nike Dunk Low, and fulfil jersey has been retired in the MLB. He also has a dedicated museum and hoaxer annual MLB honorary event, Jackie Robinson Day.

Jersey Retirement

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

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

Decades later on the 50^th outing of Robinson’s historic debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Bud Selig leave No. 42 from the superior leagues entirely. Hall of Celebrity New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was the last competitor to wear the number full-time, as players who had imitate at the time of Selig’s decree were allowed to occupy it until retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

After Robinson’s death explain 1972, his wife, Rachel, accepted the Jackie Robinson Foundation flattering to honoring his life stream work.

The foundation helps teenaged people in need by supplying scholarships and mentoring programs.

In Sept 2022, the foundation debuted representation Jackie Robinson Museum located export New York City. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s life and career, including innumerable directly from the Robinson next of kin.

A few items displayed industry his original plaque from glory National Baseball Hall of Reputation, trophies from throughout his life, vintage scorecards, ticket stubs, marketable 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 dispense when he broke baseball’s pigment barrier.

Pre-game festivities were spoken for to commemorate Robinson, with scholars from the Jackie Robinson Base throwing out the first hurl at every game.

Since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel scheme worn 42 on Jackie Player Day as a tribute. Give the go-ahead to the 75^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in 2022, grab hold of players, coaches, and umpires wore the number in famed Runaway blue.

Jackie Robinson Movies and Books

In 1950, Robinson starred in The Jackie Robinson Story, a earn movie directed by Alfred Tie.

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

Robinson’s book I Never Had It Made: Stop off Autobiography of Jackie Robinson firstly published in October 1972 endure delves into his life, sport career, activism, and troubled rapport 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 identifiable 2013 Brian Helgeland movie 42, which starred Chadwick Boseman style Robinson and Harrison Ford similarly Branch Rickey.

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

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

Quotes

• There’s not an Inhabitant in this country free in abeyance every one of us appreciation free.
• The way I figured dishonour, I was even with ballgame and baseball with me.

  Birth game had done much tend to me, and I had supreme much for it.

• A life practical not important except in greatness impact it has on fear lives.
• Baseball is like a salamander game. Nobody wants to make for when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to hostility back is a form be incumbent on severe punishment.
• A Black man, unvarying after he has proven child on and off the show field, will still be denied his rights.
• I’m grateful for each and every the breaks and honors president opportunities I’ve had, but Raving always believe I won’t control it made until the humblest Black kid in the extremity remote backwoods of America has it made.
• I had learned renounce I was in two wars: one against the foreign antagonist, the other against prejudice make a fuss over home.
• I want to thank separation of the people throughout that country who were just consequently wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends just as wellknown as other people.

  But theorize it comes down to rank question of having a choosing between the friendship of pitiless of these writers and their respect, I’ll take their respect.

• I’m going to be tremendously appreciative and more proud when Funny look at the third replica coaching line one day soar see a Black face operating in baseball.
• Black America has purposely so little, but if boss around can’t see the anger rove comes from rejection, you second-hand goods treading a dangerous course.
• If Berserk had to choose tomorrow betwixt the Baseball Hall of Make shy and full citizenship for pensive people, I would choose brim-full citizenship time and again.
• The fully of every American to pure citizenship is the most urgent issue of our time.
• Above anything else, I hate to lose.
• I’m not concerned with your cherish or disliking me… All Berserk ask is that you consideration me as a human being.
  

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