[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. 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? Jackie Jr Robinson- Jackie's oldest son, served in the Vietnam War, and played baseball like his father Sharon Robinson- Jackiest second child, and only daughter, wrote books supporting African rights David Robinson- Jackie's youngest son, was also into baseball as a child [332], In 2011, the U.S. placed a plaque at Robinson's Montreal home to honor the ending of segregation in baseball. [320][321] A number of facilities at Pasadena City College (successor to PJC) are named in Robinson's honor, including Robinson Field, a football/soccer/track facility named jointly for Robinson and his brother Mack. [51] He took a job as an assistant athletic director with the government's National Youth Administration (NYA) in Atascadero, California. [77] The job included coaching the school's basketball team for the 194445 season. [245] In 1970, Robinson established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company to build housing for low-income families. [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. [59], After receiving his commission, Robinson was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he joined the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion. After it was published, National League President Ford Frick and Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler let it be known that any striking players would be suspended. [333] The house, at 8232 avenue de Gasp near Jarry Park, was Robinson's residence when he played for the Montreal Royals during 1946. [265] After his discharge, he struggled with drug problems. [19][20][21], In 1935, Robinson graduated from Washington Junior High School and enrolled at John Muir High School (Muir Tech). He was not allowed to stay with his white teammates at the team hotel, and instead lodged at the home of Joe and Dufferin Harris, a politically active African American couple who introduced the Robinsons to civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. [233], In October 1959, Robinson entered the Greenville Municipal Airport's whites-only waiting room. Jesse Simms, the grandson of Jackie Robinson, is carrying on his family's legacy through Minor League Baseball. [241], On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired his uniform number, 42, alongside those of Roy Campanella (39) and Sandy Koufax (32). [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). [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. [231] Later that year, after he complained of numerous physical ailments, he was diagnosed with diabetes, a disease that also afflicted his brothers. [45] Robinson finished the season with 12.2 yards per attempt on 42 carries, which is the school football record for highest rushing yards per carry in a season as of 2022. [211] After playing his rookie season at first base,[93] Robinson spent most of his career as a second baseman. That year, he served as editor for Our Sports magazine, a periodical focusing on Negro sports issues; contributions to the magazine included an article on golf course segregation by Robinson's old friend Joe Louis. For the family of Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, it's an honor they've had An embarrassing mistake on a New York street sign named in honor of Jackie Robinson is going viral. [197], In 1956, Robinson had 61 runs scored, a .275 batting average, and 12 steals. Washington, Strode, and Robinson made up three of the team's four backfield players. [187] He finished the year with 104 runs, a .308 batting average, and 24 stolen bases. [165] In 1948, Wendell Smith's book, Jackie Robinson: My Own Story, was released. [331] A statue of Robinson at Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, was dedicated in 1998. [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. [200], Robinson protested against the major leagues' ongoing lack of minority managers and central office personnel, and he turned down an invitation to appear in an old-timers' game at Yankee Stadium in 1969. 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. [335], A jersey that Robinson brought home with him after his rookie season ended in 1947 was sold at an auction for $2.05million on November 19, 2017. [212] He led the league in fielding among second basemen in 1950 and 1951. 42 as part of Jackie Robinson Day tribute", "MLB players to wear #42 Monday to honor Jackie Robinson Day", "Jackie Robinson Rotunda dedicated at Citi Field", "Jackie Robinson Museum opens in Manhattan", "Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation extends partnership with The Jackie Robinson Foundation through $800,000 grant for college scholarships", "Jackie Robinson statue unveiled at Dodger Stadium", "The 2010 Aflac National High School Player of The Year Nominees Announced", Baseball awards#U.S. 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. Jackie Robinson, byname of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, (born January 31, 1919, Cairo, Georgia, U.S.died October 24, 1972, Stamford, Connecticut), the first Black baseball player to play in the American major leagues during the 20th century. "I do not care if half the league strikes. [138] Some Dodger players insinuated they would sit out rather than play alongside Robinson. [86], During the season, Robinson pursued potential major league interests. [56][57] Although the Army's initial July 1941 guidelines for OCS had been drafted as race neutral, few black applicants were admitted into OCS until after subsequent directives by Army leadership. 1 Most Significant Development in the 20th Century", "By The Numbers Robinson Was All-Around Player", "Jackie Robinson and the Great American Pastime", "Review/Theater; 'Play to Win,' a Musical About the Integration of Baseball", "The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson: Overview", "The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990)", "TELEVISION REVIEW: Across the Color Line With Satchel Paige", "Review: Ken Burns' 'Jackie Robinson' documentary is a lump-in-the-throat trip that goes beyond baseball", "Jan. 1, 1960: Greenville Airport Protest", "Jackie Robinson urged blacks to work toward 'complete freedom' during 1959 Greenville visit", "History museum exhibit explores Greenville's civil rights struggles, successes", "Robinson honored with new Hall of Fame plaque", "A Roundup of the Sports Information of the Week", "Seeking a More Authentic Jackie Robinson", "Baseball's Praised Diversity Is Stranded at First Base", "Robinson would have mixed view of today's game", "The changing face of baseball: African-American players on the decline", "Rachel Robinson to receive UCLA's highest honor", "Jackie Robinson, First Black in Major Leagues, Dies", "Baseball legend's daughter pitches father's fundamental ideals to kids", "Mr. Coffee: How a Baseball Scion Put Down Roots in Africa, and Grew a Very Rich Blend", "David Robinson Jackie Robinson Foundation", "African-American Subjects on United States Postage Stamps", "Bronze Busts Unveiled in Tribute to Robinson Brothers", "A Grand Tribute to Robinson and His Moment", "MLB ready to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day", "The final '42': Rivera pays tribute to Jackie Robinson", "Bill Russell's No. [7] In 1999, he was posthumously named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. [121][122], After much lobbying of local officials by Rickey himself, the Royals were allowed to host a game involving Robinson in Daytona Beach. [49] He played football as a senior, but the 1940 Bruins won only one game. [319] The stadium also unveiled a new mural of Robinson by Mike Sullivan on April 14, 2013. [243] In 1964, he helped found, with Harlem businessman Dunbar McLaurin, Freedom National Banka black-owned and operated commercial bank based in Harlem. He was the youngest of five children, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. [183][184], During the 1951 season, Robinson led the National League in double plays made by a second baseman for the second year in a row, with 137. "[157] Greenberg had advised him to overcome his critics by defeating them in games. Born. His father left the family a year later. [259][260], After Robinson's retirement from baseball, his wife Rachel Robinson pursued a career in academic nursing. [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. David Robinson, the youngest child of Jack and Rachel Robinson, was born in 1952. [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. [164], Racial pressure on Robinson eased in 1948 when a number of other black players entered the major leagues. [299] The gesture was originally the idea of outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who sought Rachel Robinson's permission to wear the number. 1. [6][7] Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship. He scored more than 100 runs in six of his ten seasons (averaging more than 110 runs from 1947 to 1953), had a .311 career batting average, a .409 career on-base percentage, a .474 slugging percentage, and substantially more walks than strikeouts (740 to 291). [198] After the season, the Dodgers traded Robinson to the arch-rival New York Giants for Dick Littlefield and $35,000 cash (equal to $348,843 today). That season, the Dodgers' Don Newcombe became the first black major league pitcher to win twenty games in a year. [305], At the November 2006 groundbreaking for Citi Field, the new ballpark for the New York Mets, it was announced that the main entrance, modeled on the one in Brooklyn's old Ebbets Field, would be called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. [59] After protests by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (then stationed at Fort Riley) and with the help of Truman Gibson (then an assistant civilian aide to the Secretary of War),[60] the men were accepted into OCS. He finished the year with 99 runs scored, a .328 batting average, and 12 stolen bases. [270] Twenty-five years after Robinson's death, the Interboro Parkway was renamed the Jackie Robinson Parkway in his memory. Robinson named Lee "Jeep" Handley, who played for the Phillies at the time, as the first opposing player to wish him well. [166], In the spring of 1949, Robinson turned to Hall of Famer George Sisler, working as an advisor to the Dodgers, for batting help. They had three children, Jackie Jr., Sharon, and David Robinson. [162] The year saw the release of a film biography of Robinson's life, The Jackie Robinson Story, in which Robinson played himself,[174] and actress Ruby Dee played Rachel "Rae" (Isum) Robinson. [179] Rickey shortly thereafter became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. [127] Robinson proceeded to lead the International League that season with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage,[23] and he was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Jackie was the youngest of five children who grew up in a relatively poor section of Pasadena CA. [236], In his first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962,[73] Robinson encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications, rather than his cultural impact on the game. The best was Josh Gibson. It was announced Monday that Simms has been hired as a special . [276] His youngest son, David, who has ten children, is a coffee grower and social activist in Tanzania. [109] On February 10, 1946, Robinson and Isum were married by their old friend, the Rev. In an interview with Dave Roberts, manager of the L.A. Dodgers, David Robinson shared the true impact of his father's legacy and the values to which Jackie Robinson dedicated his life. Also Known As. [52][81] Although he played well for the Monarchs, Robinson was frustrated with the experience. [46], In track and field, Robinson won the 1940 NCAA championship in the long jump at 24ft 10+14in (7.58m). [119][120] In DeLand, a scheduled day game was postponed, ostensibly because of issues with the stadium's electrical lighting. NEW YORK (AP) New York City's Department of Transportation swung and missed with a road sign for the Jackie Robinson Parkway that spelled the baseball Hall of Famer's first name as "Jakie.". Larry Doby broke the American League color barrier on July 5, 1947 with the Cleveland Indians. Jackie Robinson was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962. This forced a best-of-three playoff series against the crosstown rival New York Giants. Based on . Sources point to various reasons for Robinson's departure from UCLA. [237] In 2009, all of MLB's uniformed personnel (including players) wore number 42 on April 15; this tradition has continued every year since on that date. Jack Roosevelt Robinson. [152] Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese once came to Robinson's defense with the famous line, "You can hate a man for many reasons. [22] Recognizing his athletic talents, Robinson's older brothers Mack (himself an accomplished athlete and silver medalist at the 1936 Summer Olympics)[21] and Frank inspired Jackie to pursue his interest in sports. [216] Other portrayals include: Robinson was also the subject of a 2016 PBS documentary, Jackie Robinson, which was directed by Ken Burns and features Jamie Foxx doing voice-over as Robinson. [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. [37] Toward the end of his PJC tenure, Frank Robinson (to whom Robinson felt closest among his three brothers) was killed in a motorcycle accident. Growing up during the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and in the Robinson home where such issues were at the core of everyday life, David Robinson has spent the last 40 years involved in the development of racial and human opportunity. [280] In 1999, he was named by Time on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. [13][14] After Robinson's father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California. [100] On October 23, it was publicly announced that Robinson would be assigned to the Royals for the 1946 season. Karl Downs. The Dodgers tried Robinson in the outfield and as a third baseman, both because of his diminishing abilities and because Gilliam was established at second base. [243][246], Robinson was active in politics throughout his post-baseball life. [163] The Dodgers briefly moved into first place in the National League in late August 1948, but they ultimately finished third as the Braves went on to win the league title and lose to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. [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. 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. Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947 in the National League. Complications from heart disease and diabetes weakened Robinson and made him almost blind by middle age. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born near Cairo, Georgia in 1919, the son of sharecroppers and the grandson of enslaved workers. [52][97][101] On the same day, with representatives of the Royals and Dodgers present, Robinson formally signed his contract with the Royals. [170] Ultimately, the Dodgers won the National League pennant, but lost in five games to the New York Yankees in the 1949 World Series. The brewing mutiny ended when Dodgers management took a stand for Robinson. [34], An incident at PJC illustrated Robinson's impatience with authority figures he perceived as racista character trait that would resurface repeatedly in his life. 1952). Robinson's continued success spawned a string of death threats. In July, he was called to testify before the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) concerning statements made that April by black athlete and actor Paul Robeson. [301] After Griffey received her permission, Commissioner Bud Selig not only allowed Griffey to wear the number, but also extended an invitation to all major league teams to do the same. [204] During his career, the Dodgers played in six World Series, and Robinson himself played in six All-Star Games. His wife Rachel was present for the dedication on September 15. [157] Robinson also talked frequently with Larry Doby, who endured his own hardships since becoming the first black player in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, as the two spoke to one another via telephone throughout the season. [201] Robinson's breaking of the baseball color line and his professional success symbolized these broader changes and demonstrated that the fight for equality was more than simply a political matter. "You will find that the friends that you think you have in the press box will not support you, that you will be outcasts," Frick was quoted as saying. [132][133], In 1947, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the major leagues six days before the start of the season. Although the team enjoyed ultimate success, 1955 was the worst year of Robinson's individual career. "[151], However, Robinson received significant encouragement from several major league players. [74] While there, Robinson met a former player for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League, who encouraged Robinson to write the Monarchs and ask for a tryout. Rickey selected Robinson from a list of promising black players and interviewed him for possible assignment to Brooklyn's International League farm club, the Montreal Royals. Jackie Robinson married Rachel Isum in 1946. The people were so welcoming and saw Jack as a player and as a man. As an African-American baseball player, Jackie was on display for the whole country to judge. [52] Robinson was aghast: "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back? Robinson also led the NCAA in punt return average in the 1939 and 1940 seasons. The celebration got off to an early start on Monday at Dodger Stadium. ", "Larry Doby Remembers Being Introduced To", "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? Jackie Robinson Research Papers. [55] By that time, however, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had taken place, which drew the United States into World War II and ended Robinson's nascent football career. "[334], On November 22, 2014, UCLA announced that it would officially retire the number 42 across all university sports, effective immediately. "[93][95] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back. "[107], Rickey's offer allowed Robinson to leave behind the Monarchs and their grueling bus rides, and he went home to Pasadena. [205], Robinson's career is generally considered to mark the beginning of the post"long ball" era in baseball, in which a reliance on raw power-hitting gave way to balanced offensive strategies that used footspeed to create runs through aggressive baserunning. Jack had 16 grandchildren and as of 2014, he had 2 great-grandchildren. 42. [64] As it was a fledgling program, few students tried out for the basketball team, and Robinson even resorted to inserting himself into the lineup for exhibition games. 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? [52], In 1942, Robinson was drafted and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit at Fort Riley (in Kansas). He was the youngest of five children born to Mallie (McGriff) and Jerry Robinson, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. [148] On April 22, 1947, during a game between the Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies players and manager Ben Chapman called Robinson a "nigger" from their dugout and yelled that he should "go back to the cotton fields". At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) speech in Greenville, South Carolina, Robinson urged "complete freedom" and encouraged black citizens to vote and to protest their second-class citizenship. 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. During his 10-year MLB career, Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949the first black player so honored. [52][59][61] The experience led to a personal friendship between Robinson and Louis. [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. 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.
