Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson | Source: Richmond Free Press
Profile Summary: Jackie Robinson
- Full Name: Jack Roosevelt Robinson
- Birthday: January 31, 1919
- Death Date: October 24, 1972 (age 53)
- Birthplace: Cairo, Georgia, USA
- Death Place: Stamford, Connecticut, USA
- Birth Sign: Aquarius
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: African American
Career & Achievements
Baseball Legacy
- MLB Debut: Broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American in the modern MLB era.
- Accolades:
- 1947 Rookie of the Year: First recipient of the award.
- 1949 National League MVP: Batted .342 with 37 steals and 124 RBIs.
- 1955 World Series Champion: Defeated the New York Yankees in a historic seven-game series.
- Hall of Fame Induction: 1962 (first ballot).
- Career Stats: .311 batting average, 1,518 hits, 197 stolen bases.
Military Service
- Served in the U.S. Army during WWII (1942–1944) at Fort Riley, Kansas.
- Fought racial segregation in the military; faced court-martial (later acquitted) for refusing to move to the back of a bus.
Post-Baseball Career
- Civil Rights Activism: VP of Chock Full o’Nuts (first Black executive in a major U.S. corporation); chaired the NAACP’s Freedom Fund Campaign.
- Media: Wrote columns for the New York Post and Amsterdam News; authored autobiography I Never Had It Made (1972).
Early Life & Background
- Family: Youngest of five children born to sharecroppers Jerry and Mallie Robinson.
- Siblings: Brother Mack Robinson won Olympic silver in the 200m (1936 Berlin Olympics, behind Jesse Owens).
- Education: Starred in four sports (baseball, football, basketball, track) at UCLA (1939–1941); first Bruin to letter in four sports.
- Pre-MLB: Played for the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues, 1945) before signing with the Dodgers.
Personal Life
- Marriage: Wed Rachel Isum (1946–1972); a nurse and lifelong partner in civil rights work.
- Children: Sharon (b. 1950), David (b. 1952), and Jackie Jr. (1946–1971; died in a car accident).
- Tragedy: Jackie Jr. struggled with addiction post-Vietnam War service before his death.
Cultural Impact
- Civil Rights Pioneer:
- Advocated for integration in sports and beyond; mentored by Branch Rickey (Dodgers’ GM).
- Supported Martin Luther King Jr. and campaigned for Nelson Rockefeller.
- Awards & Honors:
- Retired Number: MLB universally retired #42 in 1997; the annual Jackie Robinson Day (April 15) commemorates his debut.
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (1984, posthumous) and Congressional Gold Medal (2005).
- Institutions: The Jackie Robinson Foundation (est. 1973 by Rachel) has awarded scholarships to over 1,500 students.
Controversies & Challenges
- Racism: Endured death threats, segregated accommodations, and teammate hostility (e.g., Dixie Walker’s trade demand).
- Support: Dodgers captain Pee Wee Reese famously embraced Robinson publicly, silencing critics.
Associated With
- Branch Rickey: Dodgers executive who signed Robinson, sharing his vision for integration.
- Mickey Mantle: 1955 World Series rival; Yankees’ star vs. Robinson’s Dodgers.
- Legacy Influence: Inspired generations, including Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.
Legacy
- Sports: Paved the way for Black athletes in MLB (e.g., Larry Doby, Willie Mays) and beyond.
- Beyond Baseball: Symbol of courage and dignity; his fight for equality resonates in movements like Black Lives Matter.
- Memorials: Jackie Robinson Museum (NYC, 2022), 42 (2013 biopic), and Rookie of the Year Award renamed in his honor (1987).
Fun Facts:
- Multi-Sport Phenom: Won NCAA long jump title at UCLA (1940).
- Pop Culture: Featured on a U.S. postage stamp (1982) and in Ken Burns’ documentary Baseball.
- Historic Quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
Legacy: Jackie Robinson transcends baseball, embodying resilience and the relentless pursuit of justice. His life remains a cornerstone of American civil rights history. 🌟