Jackie was the youngest of five children, four boys and a girl, born to impoverished sharecroppers Jerry and Mallie Robinson. [270][271] Many of his former teammates, other famous baseball players, and basketball star Bill Russell served as pallbearers, and the Rev. During Jackie Robinson 's youth in California, his older . [162] Robinson's interests began to shift toward the prospect of managing a major league team. At Sisler's suggestion, Robinson spent hours at a batting tee, learning to hit the ball to right field. Jesse Simms, the grandson of Jackie Robinson, is carrying on his family's legacy through Minor League Baseball. Sharon (born in 1950) had a successful . In December 1956, the NAACP recognized him with the Spingarn Medal, which it awards annually for the highest achievement by an African-American. The UCLA Bruins baseball team plays in Jackie Robinson Stadium,[318] which, because of the efforts of Jackie's brother Mack, features a memorial statue of Robinson by sculptor Richard H. "[93][95] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jackie Robinson was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962. He died at the age of 53 on Oct. 24, 1972. [59], After receiving his commission, Robinson was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he joined the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion. When he poured out that string of unconscionable abuse, he solidified and united thirty men. [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. Awards And Honors. [179] Rickey shortly thereafter became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. [77] The job included coaching the school's basketball team for the 194445 season. [162] In a 127 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 29, 1948, he hit for the cyclea home run, a triple, a double, and a single in the same game. [91], Other teams, however, had more serious interest in signing a black ballplayer. After Robinson left the army, Rickey, the then-GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers, saw Jackie play for the Kansas Monarchs. Robinson led the league in sacrifice hits, with 28, and in stolen bases, with 29. [267][268] The experience with his son's drug addiction turned Robinson Sr. into an avid anti-drug crusader toward the end of his life. Karl Downs) to attend church on a regular basis, and Downs became a confidant for Robinson, a Christian. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York. Robinson attended John Muir High School . He finished the year with 99 runs scored, a .328 batting average, and 12 stolen bases. [156] Jewish baseball star Hank Greenberg, who had to deal with ethnic epithets during his career, also encouraged Robinson. No.32 Is Likely To Be Hottest Debate", "Rare Jackie Robinson jersey sold for $2.05 million", Sporting News MLB Rookie of the Year Award, National League Most Valuable Player Award, National League season stolen base leaders, Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Orel Hershiser's scoreless innings streak, "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here", Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, National Football Foundation Gold Medal winners, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackie_Robinson&oldid=1142150607, Activists for African-American civil rights, African-American male track and field athletes, American expatriate baseball players in Canada, Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state), Baseball players from Pasadena, California, Basketball players from Pasadena, California, College men's basketball head coaches in the United States, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners, Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, National League Most Valuable Player Award winners, Pasadena City Lancers men's basketball players, Players of American football from Pasadena, California, UCLA Bruins men's track and field athletes, United States Army personnel of World War II, United States Army personnel who were court-martialed, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, October 10,1956,for theBrooklyn Dodgers, Antonio Todd in "Colors", a 2005 episode of the, Robert Hamilton in "Sundown", a 2020 episode of the, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:58. [239][240] In 1972, he served as a part-time commentator on Montreal Expos telecasts. Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. [161], Summer 1949 brought an unwanted distraction for Robinson. [23][24], At Muir Tech, Robinson played numerous sports at the varsity level and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball. 42 in honor of the player who broke baseball's color barrier . [13][14] After Robinson's father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California. He had 25 grandchildren and. [106], Robinson's promotion met a generally positive, although mixed, reception among newspapers and white major league players. Family sources cite financial concerns. Between the tours, he underwent surgery on his right ankle. Under the terms of the retirement, a grandfather clause allowed the handful of players who wore number 42 to continue doing so in tribute to Robinson, until such time as they subsequently changed teams or jersey numbers. [66] Robinson was acquitted by an all-white panel of nine officers. [312] The New York Yankees honor Robinson with a plaque in Monument Park. [35][64], An event on July 6, 1944, derailed Robinson's military career. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. [165] In 1948, Wendell Smith's book, Jackie Robinson: My Own Story, was released. [66][69] When Robinson later confronted the investigating duty officer about racist questioning by the officer and his assistant, the officer recommended Robinson be court-martialed. 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 . Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 - October 24, 1972) was the first African-American Major League Baseball (MLB) player of modern times. [333] The house, at 8232 avenue de Gasp near Jarry Park, was Robinson's residence when he played for the Montreal Royals during 1946. [232] Although Robinson adopted an insulin injection regimen, the state of medicine at the time could not prevent the continued deterioration of Robinson's physical condition from the disease. [24][38], After graduating from PJC in spring 1939,[39] Robinson enrolled at UCLA, where he became the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track. [269], Robinson did not outlive his son by very long. With Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson played his initial major league season as a first baseman. [197], In 1956, Robinson had 61 runs scored, a .275 batting average, and 12 steals. The trade, however, was never completed; unbeknownst to the Dodgers, Robinson had already agreed with the president of Chock full o'Nuts to quit baseball and become an executive with the company. "[33] Also while at PJC, he was elected to the Lancers, a student-run police organization responsible for patrolling various school activities. [237] He was elected on the first ballot, becoming the first black player inducted into the Cooperstown museum. Died. [52], In 1942, Robinson was drafted and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit at Fort Riley (in Kansas). Jackie Robinson. [109] On February 10, 1946, Robinson and Isum were married by their old friend, the Rev. [264] He enlisted in the Army in search of a disciplined environment, served in the Vietnam War, and was wounded in action on November 19, 1965. They had three children, Jackie Jr., Sharon, and David Robinson. [134] On April 15, Robinson made his major league debut at the relatively advanced age of 28 at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black. [211] After playing his rookie season at first base,[93] Robinson spent most of his career as a second baseman. [90] He left the tryout humiliated,[87] and more than 14 years later, in July 1959, the Red Sox became the final major league team to integrate its roster. During the last game of the regular season, in the 13th inning, he had a hit to tie the game and then hit a home run in the 14th inning, which proved to be the winning margin. That's Only a Quarter of Story", "Teammates Recall Jackie Robinson's Legacy", "The Interrelated Back Stories of Kenny Washington Reintegrating the NFL in 1946 and Jackie Robinson Integrating Major League Baseball in 1947", "Jackie Robinson's football career at UCLA hinted at greatness to come, and a 'Toy Story' character", "Outdoor Track and Field: Division I Men's", "Alumnus Jackie Robinson honored by Congress", "Black History Biographies Jackie Robinson", "Truman K. Gibson, who fought Army segregation, is dead at 93", "Jackie Robinson, College Basketball Coach", "Jackie Robinson A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress", "The Boston Red Sox and Racism: With New Owners, Team Confronts Legacy of Intolerance", "The Ball Stayed White, but the Game Did Not", "Jackie Robinson Breaks Baseball's Color Barrier, 1945", "Breaking a barrier 60 years before Robinson", "A Field of Dreams: The Jackie Robinson Ballpark", "Jackie Robinson Ballpark / Daytona Cubs", "Jackie Robinson breaks major league color barrier", "The 'Strike' Against Jackie Robinson: Truth or Myth? ", "Document Deep Dive: The Heartfelt Friendship Between Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey", "Jackie Robinson and baseball highlights, 1860s1960s", "It's Jackie Robinson Day on Wednesday. [244] Robinson also chaired the NAACP's million-dollar Freedom Fund Drive in 1957, and served on the organization's board until 1967. [10][11][12] His middle name was in honor of former President Theodore Roosevelt, who died 25 days before Robinson was born. "[151], However, Robinson received significant encouragement from several major league players. [283] Baseball writer Bill James, in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, ranked Robinson as the 32nd greatest player of all time strictly on the basis of his performance on the field, noting that he was one of the top players in the league throughout his career. 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). [288] In 1997, a $325,000 bronze sculpture (equal to $548,606 today) by artists Ralph Helmick, Stu Schecter, and John Outterbridge depicting oversized nine-foot busts of Robinson and his brother Mack was erected at Garfield Avenue, across from the main entrance of Pasadena City Hall; a granite footprint lists multiple donors to the commission project, which was organized by the Robinson Memorial Foundation and supported by members of the Robinson family. Sources point to various reasons for Robinson's departure from UCLA. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. [96][97] Rickey did not offer compensation to the Monarchs, instead believing all Negro league players were free agents due to the contracts not containing a reserve clause. American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) of the Brooklyn Dodgers. [9][93] In a famous three-hour exchange on August 28, 1945,[94] Rickey asked Robinson if he could face the racial animus without taking the bait and reacting angrilya concern given Robinson's prior arguments with law enforcement officials at PJC and in the military. "[230] Robinson retired from baseball at age 37 on January 5, 1957. [8][9] Robinson also was the first black television analyst in MLB and the first black vice president of a major American corporation, Chock full o'Nuts. 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? Robinson was disappointed at the turn of events and wrote a sympathetic letter to Rickey, whom he considered a father figure, stating, "Regardless of what happens to me in the future, it all can be placed on what you have done and, believe me, I appreciate it. [104] He was not necessarily the best player in the Negro leagues,[105] and black talents Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson were upset when Robinson was selected first. [3] When the Dodgers signed Robinson, it heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. Mets owner Fred Wilpon announced that the Metsin conjunction with Citigroup and the Jackie Robinson Foundationwill created the Jackie Robinson Museum and Learning Center, located at the headquarters of the Jackie Robinson Foundation at One Hudson Square, along Canal Street in lower Manhattan. [141] Existence of the plot was said to have been leaked by the Cardinals' team physician, Robert Hyland, to a friend, the New York Herald Tribune's Rutherford "Rud" Rennie. For other people named Jackie Robinson, see, Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, The number 42 worn by Robinson on a plaque at Monument Park (left), and Jackie Robinson Rotunda inside Citi Field (right), MVP, Congressional testimony, and film biography (19481950), Pennant races and outside interests (19511953), World Championship and retirement (19541956). [162] He did, however, record a career-high on-base percentage of .436. [187] He finished the year with 104 runs, a .308 batting average, and 24 stolen bases. [324] His home in Brooklyn, the Jackie Robinson House, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976,[325] and Brooklyn residents sought to turn his home into a city landmark. Manager Leo Durocher informed the team, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. The local Boys and Girls . In Sanford, Florida, the police chief threatened to cancel games if Robinson and Wright did not cease training activities there; as a result, Robinson was sent back to Daytona Beach. Robinson named Lee "Jeep" Handley, who played for the Phillies at the time, as the first opposing player to wish him well. April 13, 2010. [36] While at PJC, he was motivated by a preacher (the Rev. Larry Doby (who broke the color barrier in the American League on July 5, 1947, just 11 weeks after Robinson) and Satchel Paige played for the Cleveland Indians, and the Dodgers had three other black players besides Robinson. [4], Later in spring training, after some less-than-stellar performances, Robinson was shifted from shortstop to second base, allowing him to make shorter throws to first base. [56] Having the requisite qualifications, Robinson and several other black soldiers applied for admission to an Officer Candidate School (OCS) then located at Fort Riley. The sign spotted Sunday in Queens featured a picture of Robinson, Major League Baseball's first African American . He was survived by his wife Delano, their three sons and three daughters, a son and daughter from previous marriages, twenty-five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. [190], In 1953, Robinson had 109 runs, a .329 batting average, and 17 steals,[162] leading the Dodgers to another National League pennant (and another World Series loss to the Yankees, this time in six games). He gratefully accepted a plaque honoring the twenty-fifth anniversary of his MLB debut, but also commented, "I'm going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day and see a black face managing in baseball. 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