Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, a sleepy Southern town near the Florida border. [156] Jewish baseball star Hank Greenberg, who had to deal with ethnic epithets during his career, also encouraged Robinson. [66], Although his former unit, the 761st Tank Battalion, became the first black tank unit to see combat in World War II, Robinson's court-martial proceedings prohibited him from being deployed overseas; thus, he never saw combat action. [125] Pitching against Robinson was Warren Sandel who had played against him when they both lived in California. He had hoped to gain experience by managing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, but according to the New York Post, Commissioner Happy Chandler denied the request. [158], Robinson finished the season having played in 151 games for the Dodgers, with a batting average of .297, an on-base percentage of .383, and a .427 slugging percentage. . [204] During his career, the Dodgers played in six World Series, and Robinson himself played in six All-Star Games. [243] He also served as the bank's first chairman of the board. [4] Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.[5]. The couple had three children, Jackie Robinson Jr., Sharon Robinson, and David Robinson. Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully later noted that the incident showed "how much of a competitor Robinson was. [23][24], At Muir Tech, Robinson played numerous sports at the varsity level and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball. "[93][95] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back. While Mr. Robinson patrolled second base, his wife, Rachel, was combing the Connecticut suburbs for a family home. Robinson's continued success spawned a string of death threats. [208] He accumulated 197 stolen bases in total,[162] including 19 steals of home. [243][253] In 1968 he broke with the Republican party and supported Hubert Humphrey against Nixon in that year's presidential election. The following January, approximately 1,000 people marched on New Year's Day to the airport,[234][235] which was desegregated shortly thereafter. Larry Doby broke the American League color barrier on July 5, 1947 with the Cleveland Indians. Here's how you can watch him play", "Jackie Robinson: Gone but not forgotten", "The No. [62][63] Upon finishing OCS, Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in January 1943. He was the youngest of five children born to Mallie (McGriff) and Jerry Robinson, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. [52][53][54], After the government ceased NYA operations, Robinson traveled to Honolulu in the fall of 1941 to play football for the semi-professional, racially integrated Honolulu Bears. Born. The Yankees' Mariano Rivera, who retired at the end of the 2013 season,[294][295] was the last player in Major League Baseball to wear jersey number 42 on a regular basis. Jackie Robinson was born January 31, 1919 as Jackie Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson. [286], The City of Pasadena has recognized Robinson with a baseball diamond and stadium named Jackie Robinson Field in Brookside Park next to the Rose Bowl,[287] and with the Jackie Robinson Center (a community outreach center providing health services). [132][133], In 1947, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the major leagues six days before the start of the season. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy. He was the youngest of five children, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. The school also announced it would prominently display the number at all of its athletic venues. "I do not care if half the league strikes. [289][290], Major League Baseball has honored Robinson many times since his death. His wife Rachel was present for the dedication on September 15. [129][130] Whether fans supported or opposed it, Robinson's presence on the field was a boon to attendance; more than one million people went to games involving Robinson in 1946, an astounding figure by International League standards. "[99], Although he required Robinson to keep the arrangement a secret for the time being, Rickey committed to formally signing Robinson before November 1, 1945. After his death in 1972, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field. [167] Robinson also noted that "Sisler showed me how to stop lunging, how to check my swing until the last fraction of a second". high-school baseball, "Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 19811989", "Jackie Robinson receives Congressional Gold Medal", "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver Announce the California Hall of Fame 2007 Inductees", "Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium", "Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson Daytona Beach, Florida", "Robinson 'stood up for what he believed', "Fearing gang violence, school forfeits a game", "Historic sports sites rarely take landmark status", "Residents Want To Turn Jackie Robinson's Brooklyn Home into City Landmark", "NYC Parks unveils renovated Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem", "A Closer Look at New York City's Historic Harlem Parks (Part II)", "The Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coin Set", "Mayor Giuliani Unveils the New Jackie Robinson Parkway Sign", "Jersey City, Journal Square, plaque at base of Jackie Robinson statue", "Jackie Robinson's old Montreal apartment to be commemorated by U.S. government", "UCLA Honors Jackie Robinson by Retiring #42 Across All Sports", "201112 UCLA Men's Basketball Media Guide", "UCLA Basketball Notebook: Wooden Won't Make Trip To Indianapolis", "The Numbers Game From 00 To 99, Which Player Would You Choose for the All-Time Southern California Roster? I think that's one of the reasons why Josh died so earlyhe was heartbroken. Despite the success of these two Robinsons and other black players, the number of African-American players in Major League Baseball has declined since the 1970s. "[257][258] This wish was only fulfilled after Robinson's death: following the 1974 season, the Cleveland Indians gave their managerial post to Frank Robinson (no relation to Jackie), a Hall of Fame-bound player who would go on to manage three other teams. [41] Shortly afterward, Robinson and Isum were formally engaged. None of the latter were double steals (in which a player stealing home is assisted by a player stealing another base at the same time). [164], Racial pressure on Robinson eased in 1948 when a number of other black players entered the major leagues. [252] He later became special assistant for community affairs when Rockefeller was re-elected governor of New York in 1966 and in 1971 was appointed to the New York State Athletic Commission by Rockefeller. [168][169], That year, a song about Robinson by Buddy Johnson, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? Jackie Robinson was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962. Robinson led the league in sacrifice hits, with 28, and in stolen bases, with 29. Also Known As. [322] The New York Public School system has named a middle school after Robinson,[323] and Dorsey High School plays at a Los Angeles football stadium named after him. Even The Sporting News, a publication that had backed the color line, came out against the idea of a strike. Weary of constant disagreements with O'Malley, and with no hope of being re-appointed as President of the Dodgers, Rickey cashed out his one-quarter financial interest in the team, leaving O'Malley in full control of the franchise. [30][31] In 1938, he was elected to the All-Southland Junior College Team for baseball and selected as the region's Most Valuable Player. 470 Jackie Robinson Family Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 470 Jackie Robinson Family Premium High Res Photos Browse 470 jackie robinson family stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. "[107], Rickey's offer allowed Robinson to leave behind the Monarchs and their grueling bus rides, and he went home to Pasadena. April 13, 2010. Having no other choice, Mallie moved the family to Pasadena, to live with her brother. retired number Baseball Hall of Fame (1962) Most Valuable Player (1949) six-time All-Star Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1962) Rookie of the Year Award 1x . [13][14] After Robinson's father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California. [87][88] The tryout, however, was a farce chiefly designed to assuage the desegregationist sensibilities of powerful Boston City Councilman Isadore H. Y. [17] He played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, quarterback on the football team, and guard on the basketball team. Between the tours, he underwent surgery on his right ankle. [291][292] On April 15, 1997, Robinson's jersey number, 42, was retired throughout Major League Baseball, the first time any jersey number had been retired throughout one of the four major American sports leagues. [273], After Robinson's death, his widow founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and she remains an officer as of 2021. [98] Among those with whom Rickey discussed prospects was Wendell Smith, writer for the black weekly Pittsburgh Courier, who, according to Cleveland Indians owner and team president Bill Veeck, "influenced Rickey to take Jack Robinson, for which he's never completely gotten credit. Robinson portrayed himself in the 1950 motion picture The Jackie Robinson Story. [186] Robinson missed the game because manager Walter Alston decided to play Gilliam at second and Don Hoak at third base. [336][337][338][339] In a move paralleling that of MLB when it retired the number, UCLA allowed three athletes (in women's soccer, softball, and football) who were already wearing 42 to continue to do so for the remainder of their UCLA careers. [161] In February 1948, he signed a $12,500 contract (equal to $140,980 today) with the Dodgers; while a significant amount, this was less than Robinson made in the off-season from a vaudeville tour, where he answered pre-set baseball questions and a speaking tour of the South. He identified himself as a political independent,[247][248] although he held conservative opinions on several issues, including the Vietnam War (he once wrote to Martin Luther King Jr. to defend the Johnson Administration's military policy). He was also a member of the tennis team. [66][67][68] Robinson refused. Afterward, Robinson played variously at first, second, and third bases, shortstop, and in the outfield, with Jim Gilliam, another black player, taking over everyday second base duties. [25], In 1936, Robinson won the junior boys singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament and earned a place on the Pomona annual baseball tournament all-star team, which included future Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Bob Lemon. [55] Robinson then accepted an offer from his old friend and pastor Rev. In 1987, both the National and American League Rookie of the Year Awards were renamed the "Jackie Robinson Award" in honor of the first recipient (Robinson's Major League Rookie of the Year Award in 1947 encompassed both leagues). [112], Robinson's presence was controversial in racially segregated Florida. Robinson was reluctant to testify, but he eventually agreed to do so, fearing it might negatively affect his career if he declined. [36] While at PJC, he was motivated by a preacher (the Rev. He was a shortstop and leadoff hitter for the baseball team,[17] and he broke an American junior college broad-jump record held by his brother Mack with a jump of 25ft. .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6+12 in. [162] Robinson's interests began to shift toward the prospect of managing a major league team. [23][243] Robinson always considered his business career as advancing the cause of black people in commerce and industry. Jerry Robinson deserted the family six months after Jackie was born. [229], Robinson once told future Hall of Fame inductee Hank Aaron that "the game of baseball is great, but the greatest thing is what you do after your career is over. [47] Baseball was Robinson's "worst sport" at UCLA; he hit .097 in his only season, although in his first game he went 4-for-4 and twice stole home. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. After his death, his wife established the 'Jackie Robinson Foundation' in 1973 with the aim of providing scholarships for higher education to minority youths. [40][41], He was one of four black players on the Bruins' 1939 football team; the others were Woody Strode, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett. "[151], However, Robinson received significant encouragement from several major league players. [266] On June 17, 1971, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 24. From gang member to world-famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson helped break down barriers for African American athletes, proving that they can not only compete, but excel, in a variety of sports. [152] Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese once came to Robinson's defense with the famous line, "You can hate a man for many reasons. Explore 11 little-known facts about the man who integrated baseball. [109] On February 10, 1946, Robinson and Isum were married by their old friend, the Rev. [142][143][144] The Woodward article made national headlines. "[189] The 1952 season was the last year Robinson was an everyday starter at second base. His father left the family a year later. For a general survey of the media reaction to Robinson at various phases of his career, In addition to Robinson, the 1949 All-Star game featured, Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award, History of baseball in the United States Racial integration in baseball, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 100 most influential people of the 20th century, The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts, List of first black Major League Baseball players, List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders, List of Major League Baseball batting champions, List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise, List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle, List of Major League Baseball retired numbers, List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders, List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders, List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball, List of University of California, Los Angeles people, Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders, "Boston Braves at Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score, April 15, 1947", "Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson: precursors of the civil rights movement", "In Pharaoh's Land: Cairo, Georgia 19191920", "White House dream team: Jackie Roosevelt Robinson", "Robinson a Baseball Star? 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