Jackie Robinson Biography | Baseball Player

Jack Roosevelt Robinson

Born: January 31, 1919
Died: October 24, 1972
Place of Birth: Cairo, Georgia

Major Notes:

Jackie Robinson was one of five children raised by a single parent mother.
Robinson is credited as having been the first Negro player to crack baseball's color barrier.
His mother moved the family to Pasadena, California, when Jackie was still a youngster.
In high school, he was an all-round athlete and excelled in every sport he entered.
After high school, Jackie Robinson entered Pasadena Junior College and broke the national junior college long jump record.
Two years later, he enrolled at UCLA where he again excelled in sports, especially in baseball, track, and football.
Robinson was drafted by the military in World War II and served as an officer in a black army unit.
The Brooklyn Dodgers president, Branch Rickey, had been considering introducing a black player on his team.
Rickey had scouted Jackie Robinson and thought Robinson had major league potential.
Assigned in 1946 to play with the Montreal Royals, Jackie Robinson played second base.
He had a very successful season with the Royals and Rickey decided to bring Robinson up to the majors in 1947.
Rickey gave instructions to Robinson and the staff that Jackie Robinson was to learn to play first base.
There were some doubters amongst team owners, reporters, Dodgers players and management but Robinson soon proved his worth to the team.
After hearing jabs and threats from racists, opposing players, and fans, Robinson ended the season by winning the Rookie of the Year award.
He continued playing great baseball through hitting and base stealing and in 1949 won the league's Most Valuable Player award.
Over the ten years he played for the team, he became a national hero and the Dodgers won the league pennant five times.
Jackie Robinson had broken the black barrier and become a voice for civil rights.
After retiring in 1957, Robinson published his autobiography "I Never Had It Made" in 1972.
Robinson was inducted in baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962 becoming the first black player to achieve that honor.
Major league baseball has ruled that no team can issue number 42 again in honor of Jackie Robinson.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following: Kings Park Elementary School Jackie Robinson: An American Hero Houston Chronicle LookSmart Netstate

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Major Notes:

Jackie Robinson was one of five children raised by a single parent mother.

Robinson is credited as having been the first Negro player to crack baseball's color barrier.

His mother moved the family to Pasadena, California, when Jackie was still a youngster.

In high school, he was an all-round athlete and excelled in every sport he entered.

After high school, Jackie Robinson entered Pasadena Junior College and broke the national junior college long jump record.

Two years later, he enrolled at UCLA where he again excelled in sports, especially in baseball, track, and football.

Robinson was drafted by the military in World War II and served as an officer in a black army unit.

The Brooklyn Dodgers president, Branch Rickey, had been considering introducing a black player on his team.

Rickey had scouted Jackie Robinson and thought Robinson had major league potential.

Assigned in 1946 to play with the Montreal Royals, Jackie Robinson played second base.

He had a very successful season with the Royals and Rickey decided to bring Robinson up to the majors in 1947.

Rickey gave instructions to Robinson and the staff that Jackie Robinson was to learn to play first base.

There were some doubters amongst team owners, reporters, Dodgers players and management but Robinson soon proved his worth to the team.

After hearing jabs and threats from racists, opposing players, and fans, Robinson ended the season by winning the Rookie of the Year award.

He continued playing great baseball through hitting and base stealing and in 1949 won the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Over the ten years he played for the team, he became a national hero and the Dodgers won the league pennant five times.

Jackie Robinson had broken the black barrier and become a voice for civil rights.

After retiring in 1957, Robinson published his autobiography "I Never Had It Made" in 1972.

Robinson was inducted in baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962 becoming the first black player to achieve that honor.

Major league baseball has ruled that no team can issue number 42 again in honor of Jackie Robinson.