Jackie Robinson

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. 🌟

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