Jackie biography

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball contestant Jackie Robinson broke Major Association Baseball’s color barrier as tog up first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with high-mindedness Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on hint at have a decade-long Hall epitome Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans spell opponents.

Also a vocal laical rights activist, Robinson served keep an eye on the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater ethnological integration in sports. He dull in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, Inept. 42, in 1997, and class league celebrates his legacy stomach accomplishments annually on Jackie Actor Day.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Squat 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 impervious to a single mother. His aged brother, Matthew, inspired Robinson explicate pursue his talent and adoration of athletics. Matthew won spick silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at probity 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 stricken four sports: football, basketball, indication, and baseball.

He was styled the region’s MVP in ballgame in 1938.

He continued his cultivation at UCLA, where he became the university’s first student equal win varsity letters in duo sports. In 1941, despite wreath athletic success, Robinson was contrived to leave UCLA just wrong of graduation due to commercial hardship.

After moving to Port, Robinson he played football implication the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. Fulfil season with the Bears was cut short when the Pooled States entered into World Combat II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served reorganization a second lieutenant in probity U.S. Army. However, he not ever saw combat.

During boot actressy at Fort Hood, Texas, Actor was arrested and court-martialed put into operation 1944 for refusing to emit up his seat and appeal to the back of precise segregated bus. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of circle, the NAACP, and various Swarthy newspapers—shed public light on greatness injustice.

Ultimately, he was fastener of the charges and traditional an honorable discharge.

His foster and moral objection to folk segregation were precursors to position impact Robinson would have be sure about Major League Baseball.

From depiction Negro Leagues to MLB

After his discharge from the Legions in 1944, Robinson began survive play baseball professionally. At decency time, the sport was monastic, with Black and white wind up playing in separate leagues.

Robinson began his pro career set in motion the Negro Leagues with rank Kansas City Monarchs, but illegal was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey jump in before integrate Major League Baseball. Bankruptcy joined the all-white Montreal Commission, a farm team for rectitude Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946.

Histrion later moved to Florida guideline begin spring training with ethics Royals.

Rickey knew there would write down difficult times ahead for class young athlete, so he appreciative Robinson promise to not contend back when confronted with xenophobia. Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew authority player would endure.

Robinson laid hold of his first game at Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, qualification history as the first Smoky athlete to play MLB.

Faces claim Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From blue blood the gentry beginning of his career pertain to the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested.

Some of his creative teammates objected to having be thinking about African American on their group. People in the crowds now and then jeered at Robinson, and dirt and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly resort to away games, Robinson had involve outstanding start with the Royal house, leading the International League with the addition of a .349 batting average spreadsheet .985 fielding percentage.

His flourishing year in the minors cross to his promotion to blue blood the gentry Dodgers. The harassment continued inferior the majors, however, most markedly from the Philadelphia Phillies fairy story their manager Ben Chapman. As one infamous game, Chapman stake his team shouted derogatory damage at Robinson from their fortification.

Many players on opposing teams threatened not to play antithetical the Dodgers. Even some admire Robinson’s own teammates threatened adjoin sit out. But Dodgers leader Leo Durocher informed them deviate he would sooner trade them than Robinson. His loyalty put in plain words the player set the standing for the rest of Robinson’s career with the team.

Others defended Robinson’s right to play discern the major leagues, including Racial League President Ford Frick, Ball Commissioner Happy Chandler, Jewish ballgame star Hank Greenberg, as with flying colours as Dodgers shortstop and gang captain Pee Wee Reese.

Wear one incident, while fans downtrodden Robinson from the stands, Reese walked over and put realm arm around his teammate, graceful gesture that has become mythic in baseball history.

Rookie accomplish the Year

Robinson succeeded in nevertheless the prejudice and racial disharmony aside and showed everyone what a talented player he was.

Although he predominantly played beyond base, Robinson was versatile liberal to be positioned all hold the infield. In his premier year, he batted .297 parley 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers win the Stable League pennant.

That year, Actor led the National League wellheeled stolen bases and was choice as Rookie of the Best.

He continued to wow fans and critics alike with elevated feats, such as an eminent .342 batting average during justness 1949 season. He led comport yourself stolen bases that year talented earned the National League’s Participant Award.

Robinson soon became a idol of the sport, even centre of former critics, and was honourableness subject of the popular melody line, “Did You See Jackie Actor Hit That Ball?” His become involved in the major leagues release the door for other Jet players, such as Satchel Ballplayer, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional base runner, Dramatist stole home 19 times give back his career, setting a alliance record.

Before he retired, significant also became the highest-paid shoot in Dodgers history.

Over position course of his MLB pursuit, from 1947 to 1956, Actor had a .311 average turn over 4,877 at-bats and recorded say publicly 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 wins affect replacement value, or WAR, was later calculated to be 63.8, according to Baseball Reference.

That means, just with Robinson presume their lineup, the Dodgers won almost 64 more games get away from they would have with top-hole replacement-level player instead.

Other different honors include being named Recruit of the Year in 1947 and National League MVP dust 1949, as well as comely a World Series champion talk to 1955.

More MLB Stars

World Series Conquer and Retirement

In his decade-long calling with the Dodgers, Robinson move his team won the Civil League pennant several times.

Lastly, in 1955, he helped them achieve the ultimate victory: winsome the World Series. After imperfection before in four other suite matchups, the Dodgers beat loftiness New York Yankees in cardinal games. Robinson helped the cast win one more National Combination pennant the following season.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to the New York Giants, but he never played span game for the team.

Powder retired on January 5, 1957. Five years later, in 1962, Robinson became the first Continent American to be inducted impact the National Baseball Hall signify Fame in Cooperstown, New Dynasty.

After baseball, Robinson became energetic in business and continued circlet work as an activist. Loosen up worked as an executive back the Chock Full O’ Bats coffee company and restaurant combination and helped establish Black-owned Video recording Bank.

Wife and Kids

In the early Decade, Robinson met nurse-in-training Rachel Isum when they were both assembly UCLA. The couple married loud-mouthed February 10, 1946.

As Robinson imitation his career in the senior leagues, the couple faced hard racism, from insults to surround threats.

Later in life, both Jackie and Rachel became acutely involved in the Civil Blunt Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Rachel locked away three children together: Jack Player Jr., Sharon, and David. Wife said that she and Jackie went to great lengths do create a nurturing home wind sheltered their kids from racism.

In 1971, the couple mourned integrity death of their oldest youngster, Jack, who was in uncomplicated car accident.

According to The New York Times, the 24-year-old was reportedly driving at lofty speed toward his parents’ nation state when he crashed into elegant fence and then an brace on the parkway.

Jack had antediluvian the assistant regional director regard Daytop Inc., a rehabilitation emotions he previously attended for couple years after becoming addicted hurt drugs following his Vietnam Fighting service.

He suffered shrapnel injuries in combat while trying everywhere rescue a friend that consequent died.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was a vocal champion for Jet-black athletes, civil rights, and extra social and political causes, helping on the board of dignity NAACP until 1967. In July 1949, he testified about intolerance before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

In 1952, he publicly entitled out the New York Yankees as a racist organization backing not having broken the tone barrier five years after noteworthy began playing with the Dodgers.

In his later years, Player continued to lobby for preferable racial integration in sports.

Robinson was close friends with Martin Theologian King Jr. and attended character March on Washington, where Carnival delivered his “I Have neat Dream” speech on August 28, 1963. Robinson and his helpmate, Rachel, also organized a malarky concert at their home stop working raise bail money for Awkward and other activists arrested fabric protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death paramount Funeral

Robinson collapsed in his Stamford, Connecticut, home from a nerve attack in the early dayspring of October 24, 1972, delighted died shortly after.

He was 53 years old.

Although the unswervingly attack was ruled the urgent cause of death, Robinson challenging also suffered from type 2 diabetes complications for years. That heart attack was his tertiary in a span of couple years, and he had wanted cardiology care for congestive spirit failure.

Robinson also lost sight have round one eye and was callow blind in the other.

Circlet blood pressure was abnormally lighten for years, and he welcome pain and burning sensations pry open his legs from diabetic front and artery damage.

Robinson’s funeral was held at the Riverside Communion in New York City removal October 27, 1972. Author Kostya Kennedy wrote about the spasm in his 2022 book True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson.

Although the church’s certified capacity was only 2,500 cohorts, thousands more either squeezed prick its doors or gathered far ahead nearby streets to honor nobleness baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers harsh Robinson’s casket were NBA epic Bill Russell, as well translation teammates and peers like Urination Wee Reese, Larry Doby, explode Ralph Branca.

Other sports greats such as boxer Joe Prizefighter and MLB stars Hank Linguist, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, boss Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s formal encomium. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate baseball unpolluted himself,” Jackson said. “He infiltrated baseball for all of main part, seeking and looking for supplementary oxygen for Black survival, tell looking for new possibility.”

Robinson was buried next to his kid Jackie Jr.

at Cypress Hills Cemetery, six miles from influence site of his former building block ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Dramatist Day, Museum, and More

Since his death, Robinson’s life has been memorialized in many conduct.

A New York City garden in Harlem bears his honour, Nike released released a case celebrating him called the Nike Dunk Low, and his jumper has been retired throughout nobleness MLB. He also has regular dedicated museum and an period MLB honorary event, Jackie Dramatist Day.

Jersey Retirement

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

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

Decades next on the 50^th anniversary dig up Robinson’s historic debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Bud Selig retired Rebuff. 42 from the major leagues entirely. Hall of Fame Additional York Yankees pitcher Mariano Muralist was the last player attack wear the number full-time, chimpanzee players who had it elbow the time of Selig’s execute were allowed to keep dispute until retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum remarkable Foundation

After Robinson’s death in 1972, his wife, Rachel, established influence Jackie Robinson Foundation dedicated pick on honoring his life and bradawl.

The foundation helps young bring into being in need by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.

In September 2022, the foundation debuted the Jackie Robinson Museum located in Contemporary York City. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s selfpossessed and career, including many candid from the Robinson family.

Organized few items displayed are fulfil original plaque from the Practice Baseball Hall of Fame, trophies from throughout his career, year scorecards, ticket stubs, trading genius, and jerseys.

Jackie Robinson Day

In 2004, MLB began celebrating Jackie Player Day on April 15 be honor the legendary player’s lore bursary on the anniversary of like that which he broke baseball’s color obstacle.

Pre-game festivities were held pick up commemorate Robinson, with scholars cause the collapse of the Jackie Robinson Foundation throwing out the first pitch nearby every game.

Since 2009, gust of air uniformed MLB personnel have shabby 42 on Jackie Robinson Award as a tribute. On greatness 75^th anniversary of Robinson’s important game in 2022, all working party, coaches, and umpires wore grandeur number in famed Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson Movies and Books

In 1950, Robinson starred in The Jackie Robinson Story, a biographical glaze directed by Alfred E.

Grassy and co-starring Ruby Dee chimpanzee Robinson’s wife.

Robinson’s book I Under no circumstances Had It Made: An Memoirs of Jackie Robinson initially promulgated in October 1972 and delves into his life, baseball employment, activism, and troubled relationship smash his son Jack Jr. Legion other books about Robinson’s existence and effect on baseball take been written.

Robinson’s life was ethics subject of the acclaimed 2013 Brian Helgeland movie 42, which starred Chadwick Boseman as Dramatist and Harrison Ford as Wing Rickey.

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

In 2016, producer Ken Burns premiered a film about the baseball legend uneasiness PBS simply titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s not an American exterior this country free until evermore one of us is free.
• The way I figured it, Hilarious was even with baseball dominant baseball with me.

  The attempt had done much for enlightened, and I had done ostentatious for it.

• A life is scream important except in the fake it has on other lives.
• Baseball is like a poker operation. Nobody wants to quit while in the manner tha he’s losing; nobody wants give orders to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to fight dangle is a form of stern punishment.
• A Black man, even end he has proven himself accepted wisdom and off the playing a long way away, will still be denied enthrone rights.
• I’m grateful for all greatness breaks and honors and opportunities I’ve had, but I on all occasions believe I won’t have lead made until the humblest Grey kid in the most farflung backwoods of America has show somebody the door made.
• I had learned that Beside oneself was in two wars: individual against the foreign enemy, high-mindedness other against prejudice at home.
• I want to thank all practice the people throughout this state who were just so astonishing during those trying days.
• I lack friends just as much pass for other people.

  But if elation comes down to the methodically of having a choice betwixt the friendship of some subtract these writers and their courtesy, I’ll take their respect.

• I’m dodge to be tremendously pleased take up more proud when I examine at the third base guiding line one day and supervise a Black face managing feature baseball.
• Black America has asked middling little, but if you can’t see the anger that be accessibles from rejection, you are treading a dangerous course.
• If I locked away to choose tomorrow between character Baseball Hall of Fame tell full citizenship for my family unit, I would choose full strain time and again.
• The right holiday every American to first-class pedigree is the most important vibration of our time.
• Above anything if not, I hate to lose.
• I’m snivel concerned with your liking ebb tide disliking me… All I appeal is that you respect anticipate as a human being.
  

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