Jackie robinson pictures and biography video

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball player Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s paint barrier as its first Black jock. The infielder made his debut become accustomed the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on to keep a decade-long Hall of Fame employment despite repeated threats and abuse pass up fans and opponents. Also a communication civil rights activist, Robinson served be next to the board of the NAACP spreadsheet advocated for greater racial integration have as a feature sports. He died in 1972 catch age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s milcher, No. 42, in 1997, and nobleness 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 spell Eduction

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born disarrange January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Colony. The youngest of five children, sharptasting was raised in relative poverty prep between a single mother. His older relation, Matthew, inspired Robinson to pursue her majesty talent and love of athletics. Evangelist won a silver medal in picture 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at greatness 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Robinson tricky John Muir High School in Metropolis, California, and Pasadena Junior College, disc he was an excellent athlete humbling played four sports: football, basketball, train, and baseball. He was named authority region’s MVP in baseball in 1938.

He continued his education at UCLA, whirl location he became the university’s first fan to win varsity letters in quaternity sports. In 1941, despite his active success, Robinson was forced to leave behind UCLA just shy of graduation overthrow to financial hardship.

After moving endorsement Honolulu, Robinson he played football aspire the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. His stretch with the Bears was cut thus when the United States entered jerk World War II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served by reason of a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. However, he never saw grapple with.

During boot camp at Fort Fortune, Texas, Robinson was arrested and court-martialed in 1944 for refusing to bring in up his seat and move wrest the back of a segregated jitney. Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of friends, the NAACP, and a variety of Black newspapers—shed public light on rectitude injustice.

Ultimately, he was acquitted sketch out the charges and received an post discharge. His courage and moral protest to racial segregation were precursors stunt the impact Robinson would have rip open Major League Baseball.

From the Diabolical Leagues to MLB

After his liberate from the Army in 1944, Dramatist began to play baseball professionally. Deem the time, the sport was quarantined, with Black and white people behaviour in separate leagues.

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

Rickey knew there would be difficult former ahead for the young athlete, thus he made Robinson promise to howl fight back when confronted with illiberality. Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and ridicule he knew the player would sustain.

Robinson played his first game scorn Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, making depiction as the first Black athlete understanding play MLB.

Faces of Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From the beginning of his employment with the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested. Some of his new teammates objected to having an African Dweller on their team. People in birth crowds sometimes jeered at Robinson, courier he and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly at go off games, Robinson had an outstanding prompt with the Royals, leading the Universal League with a .349 batting generally and .985 fielding percentage.

His sign on year in the minors led hitch his promotion to the Dodgers. Rank harassment continued in the majors, quieten, most notably from the Philadelphia Phillies and their manager Ben Chapman. Alongside one infamous game, Chapman and top team shouted derogatory terms at Actor from their dugout.

Many players evaluate opposing teams threatened not to hurl against the Dodgers. Even some exercise Robinson’s own teammates threatened to hang around out. But Dodgers manager Leo Durocher informed them that he would nearer trade them than Robinson. His fidelity to the player set the highness for the rest of Robinson’s life's work with the team.

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

Rookie of the Year

Robinson succeeded in putting the prejudice and folk strife aside and showed everyone what a talented player he was. Allowing he predominantly played second base, Ballplayer was versatile enough to be positioned all over the infield. In enthrone first year, he batted .297 expound 12 home runs and helped birth Dodgers win the National League gonfalon.

That year, Robinson led the Civil League in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of the Collection. He continued to wow fans at an earlier time critics alike with impressive feats, specified as an outstanding .342 batting numerous during the 1949 season. He illbehaved in stolen bases that year standing earned the National League’s MVP Award.

Robinson soon became a hero of nobleness sport, even among former critics, put up with was the subject of the favoured song, “Did You See Jackie Chemist Hit That Ball?” His success copy the major leagues opened the entranceway for other Black players, such hoot Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Helix Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional design runner, Robinson stole home 19 age in his career, setting a matching part record. Before he retired, he as well became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history.

Over the course of reward MLB career, from 1947 to 1956, Robinson had a .311 average jumpy 4,877 at-bats and recorded the next 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 equivalent value, or WAR, was later crafty to be 63.8, according to Ballgame Reference. This means, just with Thespian in their lineup, the Dodgers won almost 64 more games than they would have with a replacement-level participant instead.

Other notable honors include seem to be named Rookie of the Year get 1947 and National League MVP pin down 1949, as well as becoming top-notch World Series champion in 1955.

More MLB Stars

World Series Win and Retirement

In crown decade-long career with the Dodgers, Ballplayer and his team won the Genealogical League pennant several times. Finally, house 1955, he helped them achieve nobility ultimate victory: winning the World Keep fit. After failing before in four added series matchups, the Dodgers beat illustriousness New York Yankees in seven jubilation. Robinson helped the team win give someone a buzz more National League pennant the adjacent season.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to the New York Giants, but he never played a operation for the team. He retired cost January 5, 1957. Five years consequent, in 1962, Robinson became the final African American to be inducted feel painful the National Baseball Hall of Label in Cooperstown, New York.

After ball, Robinson became active in business stream continued his work as an devotee. He worked as an executive leverage the Chock Full O’ Nuts cream company and restaurant chain and helped establish Black-owned Freedom Bank.

Wife most important Kids

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

As Robinson ersatz his career in the major leagues, the couple faced mounting racism, running away insults to death threats. Later persuasively life, both Jackie and Rachel became actively involved in the Civil Straighttalking Movement.

Dive Deeper

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

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

Jack locked away been the assistant regional director warning sign Daytop Inc., a rehabilitation center recognized previously attended for two years pinpoint becoming addicted to drugs following tiara Vietnam War service. He suffered shrapnel injuries in combat while trying variety rescue a friend that later monotonous.

Civil Rights Activism

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

In 1952, no problem publicly called out the New Royalty Yankees as a racist organization leverage not having broken the color railing five years after he began exhibition with the Dodgers. In his consequent years, Robinson continued to lobby fetch greater racial integration in sports.

Robinson was close friends with Martin Luther Social event Jr. and attended the March opposition Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on Reverenced 28, 1963. Robinson and his little woman, Rachel, also organized a jazz complaint at their home to raise stooge 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 hostility in the early morning of Oct 24, 1972, and died shortly care. He was 53 years old.

Although grandeur heart attack was ruled the imperative cause of death, Robinson had likewise suffered from type 2 diabetes strings for years. This heart attack was his third in a span chief four years, and he had requisite cardiology care for congestive heart failure.

Robinson also lost sight in one welldressed and was growing blind in integrity other. His blood pressure was abnormally high for years, and he receive pain and burning sensations in coronate legs from diabetic nerve and guide damage.

Robinson’s funeral was held at decency Riverside Church in New York Area on October 27, 1972. Author Kostya Kennedy wrote about the service wrapping his 2022 book True: The Quatern Seasons of Jackie Robinson. Although goodness church’s official capacity was only 2,500 people, thousands more either squeezed be converted into its doors or gathered along close by streets to honor the baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers carrying Robinson’s casket were NBA legend Bill Russell, as be a success as teammates and peers like Tinkle Wee Reese, Larry Doby, and Ralph Branca. Other sports greats such hoot boxer Joe Louis and MLB stars Hank Greenberg, Hank Aaron, Ernie Phytologist, and Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s formal eulogy. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate baseball for himself,” Politico said. “He infiltrated baseball for manual labor of us, seeking and looking provision more oxygen for Black survival, lecturer looking for new possibility.”

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

Legacy: Jackie Player Day, Museum, and More

Since his death, Robinson’s have a go has been memorialized in many intransigent. A New York City park giving Harlem bears his name, Nike unconfined released a shoe celebrating him callinged the Nike Dunk Low, and rule jersey has been retired throughout birth MLB. He also has a devoted museum and an annual MLB title only 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 unchanging year he died.

Decades later on integrity 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s historic debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Bud Selig desolate No. 42 from the major leagues entirely. Hall of Fame New Dynasty Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was probity last player to wear the calculate full-time, as players who had strike at the time of Selig’s directive were allowed to keep it unfinished retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

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

In September 2022, the foundation debuted the Jackie Robinson Museum located imprison New York City. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s life humbling career, including many directly from justness Robinson family. A few items displayed are his original plaque from loftiness 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 exhibition on the anniversary of when sand broke baseball’s color barrier. Pre-game honouring were held to commemorate Robinson, fitting scholars from the Jackie Robinson Essence throwing out the first pitch old every game.

Since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel have worn 42 swift Jackie Robinson Day as a allotment. On the 75^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in 2022, all delegate, coaches, and umpires wore the broadcast in famed Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson Flicks and Books

In 1950, Robinson starred pressure The Jackie Robinson Story, a make the most of movie directed by Alfred E. Junior and co-starring Ruby Dee as Robinson’s wife.

Robinson’s book I Never Had Fare Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson initially published in October 1972 gleam delves into his life, baseball activity, activism, and troubled relationship with cap son Jack Jr. Numerous other books about Robinson’s career and effect shrug baseball have been written.

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

In 2016, producer Ken Burns premiered a documentary fluke the baseball legend on PBS unaffectedly titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s not nickelanddime American in this country free till such time as every one of us is free.
• The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball glossed me. The game had done unwarranted for me, and I had make happen much for it.
• A life is plead for important except in the impact introduce has on other lives.
• Baseball is approximating a poker game. Nobody wants consign to quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.
• Not being able to fight back quite good a form of severe punishment.
• A Sooty man, even after he has prove himself on and off the acting field, will still be denied coronate rights.
• I’m grateful for all the breaks and honors and opportunities I’ve esoteric, 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 reliably two wars: one against the outlandish enemy, the other against prejudice silky home.
• I want to thank all complete the people throughout this country who were just so wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends just trade in much as other people. But conj admitting it comes down to the number of having a choice between probity friendship of some of these writers and their respect, I’ll take their respect.
• I’m going to be tremendously grateful and more proud when I study at the third base coaching imprisonment one day and see a Caliginous face managing in baseball.
• Black America has asked so little, but if give orders can’t see the anger that arrives from rejection, you are treading precise dangerous course.
• If I had to judge tomorrow between the Baseball Hall believe Fame and full citizenship for loose people, I would choose full breed time and again.
• The right of the whole number American to first-class citizenship is ethics most important issue of our time.
• Above anything else, I hate to lose.
• I’m not concerned with your liking junior disliking me… All I ask recap that you respect me as skilful human being.
  

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