Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was an American baseball player who became the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. More
As the first major league team to play a black man since the 1880s, the Dodgers ended racial segregation that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues for six decades. The example of Robinson's character and unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation, which then marked many other aspects of American life, and contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement.
In addition to his cultural impact, Robinson had an exceptional baseball career. Over 10 seasons, Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games, from 1949 to 1954, was the recipient of the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949—the first black player so honored. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, MLB "universally" retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams; he was the first pro athlete in any sport to be so honored. Initiated for the first time on April 15, 2004, MLB has adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", on which every player on every team wears #42.
Jackie Robinson timeline
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Jackie Robinson Born
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, the youngest of five children during a Spanish flu and smallpox epidemic. His older... Read more
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Jackie Robinson attends John Muir High School
In 1935, Robinson graduated from Dakota Junior High School and enrolled in John Muir High School ("Muir Tech"). There he played on various Muir... Read more
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Jackie Robinson attends Pasadena Junior College
Jackie Robinson attendsPasadena Junior College (PJC), where he continued his athletic career, playing basketball, football, baseball, and track. ... Read more
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Jackie Robinson attends UCLA
Jackie Robinson transferred from Pasadena Junior College to the nearby University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he became the school's... Read more
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Jackie Robinson plays for the Honolulu Bears
Jackie Robinson went to Hawaii in the fall of 1941 to join a semiprofessional, racially integrated football team, the Honolulu Bears. On weekends... Read more
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Jackie Robinson tries out for the Chicago White Sox
Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, two black players, ask the Chicago White Sox for a tryout. Manager Jimmy Dykes grants both players a workout,... Read more
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Jackie Robinson inducted into US Army
After being drafted, Robinson was assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit in Fort Riley, Kansas. Having the requisite qualifications, Robinson... Read more
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Jackie Robinson arrested for refusing to move to back of military bus
While awaiting results of hospital tests on his prior ankle injury from junior college, Robinson boarded an Army bus with a fellow black officer's... Read more
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Jackie Robinson acquitted in court martial trial
Jackie Robinson acquitted of reduced charges of alleged insubordination; the actual incident on the bus that had precipitated his prosecution was... Read more
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Jackie Robinson accepts honorable discharge from the Army
After acquittal, he was transferred to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, where he served as a coach for army athletics until he received an honorable... Read more
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Jackie Robinson plays for Kansas City Monarchs in Negro Leagues
In early 1945, while still at Sam Huston College, Robinson received an offer to play for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. Robinson's... Read more
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Jackie Robinson tries out for Boston Red Sox
Jackie Robinson and two other black players, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams, participate in a Boston Red Sox tryout at Fenway Park. The Red Sox... Read more
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Jackie Robinson Signs with Brooklyn Dodgers' Organization
Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers signs Jackie Robinson to a contract and assigns him to the team's... Read more
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Jackie Robinson signs with Dodger's organization and is assigned to the Montreal Royals
Jackie Robinson signs a contract to play with the Montreal Royals of the International League, a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He received... Read more
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Jackie Robinson makes debut in professional organized baseball with Montreal Royals
Jackie Robinson made his professional debut in organized professional baseball at Daytona's City Island Ballpark, in an exhibition game between the... Read more
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Jackie Robinson plays first regular season game with Montreal Royals
Jackie Robinson plays his first professional baseball game for the Montreal Royals at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Montreal... Read more
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Jackie Robinson wins Rookie of Year Award for Major League Baseball
Jackie Robinson finished his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers with 12 home runs, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average in 1947,... Read more
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Jackie Robinson plays in first game as a major leaguer with Brooklyn Dodgers
In his first season, with Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson was forced to play first base. On April 15, 1947... Read more
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Jackie Robinson hits for cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals
Jackie Robinson hits for the cycle in the first game of a doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson scores three runs and drives in a... Read more
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Jackie Robinson wins National League Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Jackie Robinson won the Most Valuable Player award for the National League, leading the league with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases. ... Read more
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Jackie Robinson stars as himself in biographical movie, "The Jackie Robinson Story"
Jackie Robinson appears in a film biography, "The Jackie Robinson Story" in which he played himself. Actress Ruby Dee played Rachael "Rae" (Isum)... Read more
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New York Giants win NL Pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World"
There's a long drive... it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS... Read more
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Jackie Robinson wins his only championship, as the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in seven games
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture... Read more
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Jackie Robinson retires from baseball
Jackie Robinson decided to retire from baseball after the 1956 season. He accepted a job offer from the Chock Full O' Nuts restaurant chain in New... Read more
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Jackie Robinson enshrined in Baseball Hall of Fame
In his first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, Robinson encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications,... Read more