Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt Robinson
Born: January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia
Died: October 24, 1972 in Stamford, Conn.
Debut: 1947 | Pos: 2B
H: 5'11" | W: 204 | B: R | T: R

>> Visit the Jackie Robinson biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

Few can know what it must have felt like for Jackie Robinson to play his first game in Major League Baseball. Thanks to Robinson, countless other players to follow him didn't have to find out.

Throughout history, baseball has been in a number of positions to affect social change in dramatic ways. In 1947, baseball began something it would take years for the rest of the nation to catch up to -- integration.

Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 in the rural South. Less than six months after Jackie's arrival, his father left the family never to return. Robinson's mother packed up her five children and moved to California in 1920.

Robinson attended Pasadena Junior College where his athletic skills were showcased. He gained entrance into UCLA and became the first athlete to ever letter in four sports -- baseball, basketball, track and football. He also developed a reputation as unwilling to allow anyone to insult him or his race.

He was drafted into the Army following the Pearl Harbor incident only to find himself facing another situation involving his skin color. Robinson faced court-martial over an incident involving himself and a white officer. In the end, all charges against Robinson were dismissed. On Nov. 28, 1944, he was released from the Army because of a football injury.

He found his way to baseball the next year, playing for the Kansas Cty Monarchs. Jackson was reputed to have not fit in with the harder-living members of his team. However, he played well on the field. In his only season with the team, Robinson hit .387 with 5 HR, 23 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

In 1945, an event happened that would set the course for Jackson's historic moment. Happy Chandler succeeded the late Kenesaw Mountain Landis as baseball commissioner. Chandler, when asked about African-Americans in the game, said that if black soldiers could fight and die in the war, then they could play baseball at home.

Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey saw an opportunity. Under the guise of fielding his own Negro League team, Rickey began to scout talented black athletes. He was looking for someone who would be able to play but would also be able to withstand the racial backlash that would undoubtedly follow.

As a result, Rickey found Robinson. The two had a conversation in 1945 with Rickey telling Robinson he was looking for a player with the courage not to fight against what was happening to him on the field. Robinson agreed,

In 1946, Robinson became a member of the Montreal Royals, the top team in the Dodgers' farm system. Robinson made a strong case for playing in the majors by hitting .349 with 113 runs scored to lead the International League and stealing 40 bases driving in 66 runs. 

On April 15, 1947, Robinson stepped on the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He didn't get a hit in his first game, but he scored the game's winning run. He played the season at first base (the only position open that year in the Dodgers' lineup) and faced incredible racism and odds. Robinson hit .297 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI and a league-leading 29 stolen bases. He was named baseball's first-ever rookie of the year.

Rickey told Robinson the agreement not to fight was over at the start of the 1949 season, giving Robinson a chance to fight for his rights and make statements against racism. Robinson had one of his best seasons ever, hitting .342 with 16 home runs, 124 RBI and 37 SB. He was named National League MVP honor. 

In World Series play (1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956), Robinson collected 32 hits with 2 home runs, 12 RBI and 6 stolen bases.

After a decade in Brooklyn, he was traded to the Giants in 1956. Robinson decided to retire from the game a month later. After working in business and politics, Robinson died of a heart attack in October 1972 at the age of 53.

Robinson was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962. Major League Baseball honored Robinson in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of his first game. His number was retired on all teams (although players wearing the number at the time are allowed to keep it until they retire.) He was also named the baseball's All-Century Team in 2000.

Sources: The Negro Leagues Book, ESPN Classic, Baseball Encyclopedia, baseball-reference.com