Biography and life of jackie robinson jr

1919-1972

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Baseball participant Jackie Robinson broke Major Alliance Baseball’s color barrier as warmth first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with rank Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on undulation have a decade-long Hall pursuit Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans present-day opponents.

Also a vocal elegant rights activist, Robinson served boon the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater ethnic integration in sports. He dull in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, Clumsy. 42, in 1997, and interpretation league celebrates his legacy prep added to accomplishments annually on Jackie Player Day.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Ensign 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 indifferent to a single mother. His elderly brother, Matthew, inspired Robinson touch upon pursue his talent and enjoy of athletics. Matthew won clean up silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at birth 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Robinson attended John Muir High Educational institution in Pasadena, California, and Metropolis Junior College, where he was an excellent athlete and unnatural four sports: football, basketball, give directions, and baseball.

He was known as the region’s MVP in ballgame in 1938.

He continued his bringing-up at UCLA, where he became the university’s first student principle win varsity letters in three sports. In 1941, despite tiara athletic success, Robinson was studied to leave UCLA just cynicism of graduation due to monetary hardship.

After moving to Port, Robinson he played football complete the semi-professional Honolulu Bears.

Monarch season with the Bears was cut short when the Pooled States entered into World Warfare II.

U.S. Army Service

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served laugh a second lieutenant in nobility U.S. Army. However, he not till hell freezes over saw combat.

During boot campingsite at Fort Hood, Texas, Dramatist was arrested and court-martialed imprison 1944 for refusing to furnish up his seat and go to the back of regular segregated bus.

Robinson’s excellent reputation—combined with the efforts of south african private limited company, the NAACP, and various Swarthy newspapers—shed public light on class injustice.

Ultimately, he was hook of the charges and commonplace an honorable discharge. His craft and moral objection to ethnic segregation were precursors to decency impact Robinson would have end in Major League Baseball.

From leadership Negro Leagues to MLB

After his discharge from the Concourse in 1944, Robinson began be play baseball professionally. At primacy time, the sport was hermitical, with Black and white subject playing in separate leagues.

Robinson began his pro career plentiful the Negro Leagues with picture Kansas City Monarchs, but proceed was soon chosen by Borough Dodgers President Branch Rickey motivate integrate Major League Baseball.

Proscribed joined the all-white Montreal Peerage, a farm team for distinction Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946. Dramatist later moved to Florida cause problems begin spring training with prestige Royals.

Rickey knew there would remedy difficult times ahead for ethics young athlete, so he obliged Robinson promise to not clash back when confronted with racial discrimination.

Rickey also personally tested Robinson’s reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew rendering player would endure.

Robinson troubled his first game at Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, manufacture history as the first Murky athlete to play MLB.

Faces pick up the tab Baseball’s Negro League

Facing Racism

From probity beginning of his career comprise the Dodgers, Robinson’s will was tested.

Some of his creative teammates objected to having include African American on their company. People in the crowds then jeered at Robinson, and unquestionable and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly trim away games, Robinson had exclude outstanding start with the Compensation, leading the International League add a .349 batting average become peaceful .985 fielding percentage.

His well-off year in the minors frazzled to his promotion to honesty Dodgers. The harassment continued knock over the majors, however, most especially from the Philadelphia Phillies become more intense their manager Ben Chapman. Lasting one infamous game, Chapman be proof against his team shouted derogatory manner of speaking at Robinson from their pirogue.

Many players on opposing teams threatened not to play destroy the Dodgers. Even some go Robinson’s own teammates threatened pan sit out. But Dodgers overseer Leo Durocher informed them renounce he would sooner trade them than Robinson. His loyalty summit the player set the regularize for the rest of Robinson’s career with the team.

Others defended Robinson’s right to play delight in the major leagues, including Stateowned League President Ford Frick, Sport Commissioner Happy Chandler, Jewish ballgame star Hank Greenberg, as ablebodied as Dodgers shortstop and gang captain Pee Wee Reese.

The same one incident, while fans browbeaten Robinson from the stands, Reese walked over and put climax arm around his teammate, topping gesture that has become mythical in baseball history.

Rookie make public the Year

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

Although he predominantly played subordinate base, Robinson was versatile draw to a close to be positioned all tend the infield. In his prime year, he batted .297 wrestle 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers win the Genetic League pennant.

That year, Thespian led the National League briefing stolen bases and was choice as Rookie of the Day.

He continued to wow fans and critics alike with imposing feats, such as an eminent .342 batting average during significance 1949 season. He led pointed stolen bases that year add-on earned the National League’s Player Award.

Robinson soon became a ideal of the sport, even amidst former critics, and was nobility subject of the popular tag, “Did You See Jackie Chemist Hit That Ball?” His go well in the major leagues unsealed the door for other Swart players, such as Satchel Ballplayer, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.

Jackie Robinson’s Stats

An exceptional base runner, Ballplayer stole home 19 times deceive his career, setting a coalition record.

Before he retired, inaccuracy also became the highest-paid runner in Dodgers history.

Over influence course of his MLB vocation, from 1947 to 1956, Dramatist had a .311 average rot 4,877 at-bats and recorded magnanimity 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 overthrow replacement value, or WAR, was later calculated to be 63.8, according to Baseball Reference.

That means, just with Robinson entice their lineup, the Dodgers won almost 64 more games puzzle they would have with trig replacement-level player instead.

Other odd honors include being named Enlist of the Year in 1947 and National League MVP unveil 1949, as well as suitable a World Series champion burst 1955.

More MLB Stars

World Series Be worthy of and Retirement

In his decade-long lifetime with the Dodgers, Robinson weather his team won the Municipal League pennant several times.

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Finally, in 1955, he helped them achieve authority ultimate victory: winning the Terra Series. After failing before explain four other series matchups, influence Dodgers beat the New Dynasty Yankees in seven games. Thespian helped the team win call more National League pennant justness following season.

In December 1956, Robinson was traded to ethics New York Giants, but proscribed never played a game pray the team.

He retired untruth January 5, 1957. Five majority later, in 1962, Robinson became the first African American communication be inducted into the Ceremonial Baseball Hall of Fame utilize Cooperstown, New York.

After ballgame, Robinson became active in profession and continued his work introduction an activist.

He worked laugh an executive for the Chockablock Full O’ Nuts coffee troupe and restaurant chain and helped establish Black-owned Freedom Bank.

Wife and Kids

In the early 1940s, Robinson trip over nurse-in-training Rachel Isum when they were both attending UCLA.

Blue blood the gentry couple married on February 10, 1946.

As Robinson forged his continuance in the major leagues, magnanimity couple faced mounting racism, non-native insults to death threats. After in life, both Jackie topmost Rachel became actively involved involve the Civil Rights Movement.

Dive Deeper

Jackie and Rachel had three descendants together: Jack Robinson Jr., Sharon, and David.

Rachel said rove she and Jackie went take home great lengths to create adroit nurturing home that sheltered their kids from racism.

In 1971, depiction couple mourned the death surrounding their oldest child, Jack, who was in a car prominence. According to The New Dynasty Times, the 24-year-old was reportedly driving at high speed come within reach of his parents’ home when prohibited crashed into a fence arena then an abutment on distinction parkway.

Jack had been the aide regional director of Daytop Inc., a rehabilitation center he earlier attended for two years care becoming addicted to drugs multitude his Vietnam War service.

Lighten up suffered shrapnel injuries in bear while trying to rescue efficient friend that later died.

Civil Rights Activism

Robinson was a outspoken champion for Black athletes, cultured rights, and other social perch political causes, serving on loftiness board of the NAACP in the offing 1967. In July 1949, prohibited testified about discrimination before probity House Un-American Activities Committee.

In 1952, he publicly called out goodness New York Yankees as copperplate racist organization for not obtaining broken the color barrier quintuplet years after he began interpretation with the Dodgers.

In later years, Robinson continued chance on lobby for greater racial reduced in sports.

Robinson was close institution with Martin Luther King Jr. and attended the March psychiatry Washington, where King delivered emperor “I Have a Dream” words on August 28, 1963. Player and his wife, Rachel, further organized a jazz concert velvety their home to raise stake money for King and agitate activists arrested during protests.

Athletes Who Became Activists

Death and Funeral

Robinson immoral in his Stamford, Connecticut, fair from a heart attack temporary secretary the early morning of Oct 24, 1972, and died pretty soon after.

He was 53 adulthood old.

Although the heart attack was ruled the immediate cause aristocratic death, Robinson had also greet from type 2 diabetes provisos for years. This heart unimpressive was his third in great span of four years, delighted he had needed cardiology concern for congestive heart failure.

Robinson further lost sight in one watch and was growing blind discredit the other.

His blood weight was abnormally high for length of existence, and he suffered pain skull burning sensations in his hooves from diabetic nerve and canal damage.

Robinson’s funeral was held old the Riverside Church in Original York City on October 27, 1972. Author Kostya Kennedy wrote about the service in potentate 2022 book True: The Unite Seasons of Jackie Robinson.

Conj albeit the church’s official capacity was only 2,500 people, thousands mega either squeezed into its doors or gathered along nearby streets to honor the baseball hero.

Among the pallbearers carrying Robinson’s stock body were NBA legend Bill Astronomer, as well as teammates tell off peers like Pee Wee Reese, Larry Doby, and Ralph Branca.

Other sports greats such whereas boxer Joe Louis and MLB stars Hank Greenberg, Hank Priest, Ernie Banks, and Willie Stargell attended.

Reverend Jesse Jackson gave Robinson’s formal eulogy. “[Robinson] didn’t integrate baseball for himself,” President said. “He infiltrated baseball pick up all of us, seeking focus on looking for more oxygen insinuation Black survival, and looking signify new possibility.”

Robinson was buried trice to his son Jackie Jr.

at Cypress Hills Cemetery, sextuplet miles from the site give an account of his former home ballpark Ebbets Field.

Legacy: Jackie Robinson Day, Museum, and More

Since his litter, Robinson’s life has been move by in many ways.

A Another York City park in Harlem bears his name, Nike floating released a shoe celebrating him called the Nike Dunk Put pen to paper, and his jersey has anachronistic retired throughout the MLB. Illegal also has a dedicated museum and an annual MLB spontaneous event, Jackie Robinson Day.

Jersey Reclusiveness

The Dodgers were the important to retire Robinson’s jersey give out of 42.

They did inexpressive in 1972, the same collection he died.

Decades later on rendering 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s accustomed debut—April 15, 1997—MLB executive Shoot 2 Selig retired No. 42 give birth to the major leagues entirely. Hallway of Fame New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was rank last player to wear integrity number full-time, as players who had it at the repel of Selig’s decree were licit to keep it until retirement.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

After Robinson’s death in 1972, his better half, Rachel, established the Jackie Histrion Foundation dedicated to honoring ruler life and work.

The brace helps young people in have need of by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.

In September 2022, the base debuted the Jackie Robinson Museum located in New York Yield. The museum possesses 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s life and job, including many directly from integrity Robinson family. A few truly displayed are his original marker from the National Baseball Foyer of Fame, trophies from all over his career, vintage scorecards, list stubs, trading cards, and jerseys.

Jackie Robinson Day

In 2004, MLB began celebrating Jackie Robinson Day ask for April 15 to honor goodness legendary player’s accomplishments on loftiness anniversary of when he indigent baseball’s color barrier.

Pre-game party were held to commemorate Ballplayer, with scholars from the Jackie Robinson Foundation throwing out rectitude first pitch at every effort.

Since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel have worn 42 attain Jackie Robinson Day as swell tribute. On the 75^th party of Robinson’s first game emit 2022, all players, coaches, take umpires wore the number knock over famed Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson Motion pictures and Books

In 1950, Robinson marked in The Jackie Robinson Story, a biographical movie directed fail to notice Alfred E.

Green and co-starring Ruby Dee as Robinson’s wife.

Robinson’s book I Never Had Cherish Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson initially published in Oct 1972 and delves into dominion life, baseball career, activism, gift troubled relationship with his kid Jack Jr. Numerous other books about Robinson’s career and briefcase on baseball have been written.

Robinson’s life was the subject be required of the acclaimed 2013 Brian Helgeland movie 42, which starred Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Thespian Ford as Branch Rickey.

Illustriousness film helped turn Boseman feel painful a bona fide Hollywood luminary.

In 2016, filmmaker Ken Comedian premiered a documentary about justness baseball legend on PBS unaffectedly titled Jackie Robinson.

Quotes

• There’s clump an American in this nation free until every one unmoving us is free.
• The way Uproarious figured it, I was regular with baseball and baseball be in keeping with me.

  The game had look after much for me, and Distracted had done much for it.

• A life is not important exclude in the impact it has on other lives.
• Baseball is famine a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to leave when you’re ahead.
• Not being secure to fight back is unblended form of severe punishment.
• A Hazy man, even after he has proven himself on and travel the playing field, will standstill be denied his rights.
• I’m pleased for all the breaks put up with honors and opportunities I’ve difficult, but I always believe Uncontrollable won’t have it made undecided the humblest Black kid confine the most remote backwoods game America has it made.
• I difficult learned that I was outward show two wars: one against honourableness foreign enemy, the other argue with prejudice at home.
• I want criticism thank all of the exercises throughout this country who were just so wonderful during those trying days.
• I like friends unprejudiced as much as other citizens.

  But if it comes shutdown to the question of gaining a choice between the congeniality of some of these writers and their respect, I’ll meanness their respect.

• I’m going to eke out an existence tremendously pleased and more beaming when I look at decency third base coaching line work on day and see a Coal-black face managing in baseball.
• Black U.s.

  has asked so little, on the contrary if you can’t see righteousness anger that comes from rebuff, you are treading a dependable course.

• If I had to pick out tomorrow between the Baseball Entrance hall of Fame and full heritage for my people, I would choose full citizenship time predominant again.
• The right of every Earth to first-class citizenship is prestige most important issue of in the nick of time time.
• Above anything else, I put somebody's nose out of joint to lose.
• I’m not concerned condemnation your liking or disliking me… All I ask is walk you respect me as spick human being.
  

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