Jackie Robinson From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For other persons named Jackie Robinson, see Jackie Robinson (disambiguation). Jackie Robinson Second baseman Born: January 31, 1919(1919-01-31) Cairo, Georgia Died: October 24, 1972 (aged 53) Stamford, Connecticut Batted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut April 15, 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers Final game October 10, 1956 for the Brooklyn Dodgers Career statistics Batting average .311 Hits 1,518 Home runs 137 Teams Brooklyn Dodgers (1947–1956) Career highlights and awards 6x All-Star selection (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954) World Series champion (1955) 1947 NL Rookie of the Year 1949 NL MVP Uniform number 42 was retired by Major League Baseball across all teams in 1997 to honor the 50th anniversary of his first major league game Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Elected 1962 Vote 77.5% (first ballot) Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was a baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African-American major league baseball player of the modern era in 1947.[1] Although not the first African American professional baseball player in United States history, Robinson's Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers ended approximately sixty years of baseball segregation, also known as the baseball color line, or color barrier. In the United States at this time, many white people believed that blacks and whites should be segregated or kept apart in many aspects of life, including sports. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Robinson in 1962 and he played for six World Series teams. Robinson earned six consecutive All-Star Game nominations and won several awards during his career. In 1947, he won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the first Rookie of the Year Award. Two years later, he won the National League MVP Award—the first black player to do so.[2] In addition to Robinson's accomplishments on the field, he supported the early Civil Rights Movement. In the 1960s, he helped to establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American owned and controlled entity based in Harlem, New York.[3] Robinson also wrote a syndicated newspaper column for several years that he used to support Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.[4] Robinson campaigned for several politicians, including the Democrat Hubert Humphrey and the Republican Richard Nixon. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[4] On April 15, 1997, the 50 year anniversary of his debut, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's jersey number 42 across all MLB teams in recognition of his accomplishments both on and off the field in a ceremony at Shea Stadium.[5] In 1950 Robinson played himself in the biographical film The Jackie Robinson Story.[6] He became a political activist in his post-playing days. In 1946, Robinson married Rachel Annetta Isum, and in 1973, after Robinson died, she founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Baseball career 3.1 1947–Breaking the color barrier 3.2 1948 3.3 1949 3.4 1950 3.5 1951 3.6 1952–1955 4 Post-baseball life 5 Awards and recognition 5.1 Jackie Robinson Day 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links Early life Jackie Robinson, the youngest of five children,[7] was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 during a Spanish flu and smallpox epidemic.[8] His middle name was in honor of former President Theodore Roosevelt who had died 25 days before Robinson was born.[9] His family were sharecroppers and after their father left them in 1920 they moved to Pasadena, California.[8][10][11] Raised by a single mother, Robinson grew up in relative poverty and joined a local neighborhood gang that his friend Carl Anderson eventually persuaded Robinson to abandon.[8][12] Jackie Robinson in the California Winter League, 1944.In 1935, Robinson graduated from Dakota Junior High School and enrolled in John Muir High School ("Muir Tech").[13] There he played on various Muir Tech sport teams, and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball.[14] Robinson's older brother, Matthew Robinson, inspired Jackie to pursue his talent and love for athletics.[15] He played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, quarterback on the football team, and guard on the basketball team. Jackie was also a member of the tennis team and the track and field squad and won awards in the broad jump.[16] In 1936 Robinson won the junior boys' singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament, starred as quarterback, and earned a place on the annual Pomona baseball tournament all-star team which included future Baseball Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Bob Lemon.[17] The next year he played for the high school's basketball team. That year the Pasadena Star-News newspaper reported on the young Robinson.[18] After leaving Muir, Robinson attended Pasadena Junior College, where he continued to excel in sports. He played basketball, football, and baseball.[19] He played quarterback and safety for the football team, shortstop and leadoff batter for the baseball team, and participated in the broad jump. While at PJC, he was elected to the "Lancers,” a student run police organization responsible for patrolling various school activities.[20] However, on January 25, 1938, he was arrested for questionable reasons and sentenced to two years probation.[21] In 1938, he was elected to the All-Southland Junior College (baseball) Team and selected as the region's Most Valuable Player.[22] On February 4, 1939, he played his last basketball game at Pasadena Junior College. Thereupon Robinson was awarded a gold pin and was named to the school's "Order of the Mast and Dagger" (Omicron Mu Delta).[23] After leaving PJC in 1940, Robinson transferred to the nearby University of California, Los Angeles where he became the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track.[10] He was one of four African American players on the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team, the others were Woody Strode, Kenny Washington and Ray Bartlett. Washington, Strode, and Robinson starred on the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team where they made up three of the four backfield players.[24] This was a rarity—to have so many African Americans when only a few dozen at all played on college football teams.[25] They played eventual conference and national champion USC to a 0-0 tie with the 1940 Rose

Bowl on the line. It was the first game in the history of the rivalry with national implications. Despite many athletic achievements and having nearly completed the requirements for his degree, Robinson withdrew from the university for financial reasons in 1941.[26] Robinson then briefly worked as an athletic director for the National Youth Administration before going to Honolulu that fall to play football for the semi-professional, racially integrated Honolulu Bears. The season was brief and he returned that December shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the United States into World War II.[27] The army drafted him the following year. Military career Drafted into the United States Army and assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, Jackie Robinson learned that white men with his level of education were allowed to go to officers training school, but blacks could not. Robinson had met heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis during basic training and he asked him for help. Louis talked to a friend in Washington, D.C. and the army then allowed Robinson and several other black men to train to become officers. Whether the army made the decision on its own or because of Louis' friend is not clear.[28] Robinson was commissioned a second lieutenant and re-assigned to Fort Hood, Texas where he joined the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion. While waiting for the results of hospital tests on an injured ankle, he boarded an Army bus with a fellow officer's wife; although the Army had commissioned its own unsegregated bus line, the bus's driver (who apparently believed that Robinson's companion was white) ordered Robinson to move to the back of the bus, away from his companion. Robinson refused. The driver backed down, but when he reached the end of the line he summoned MPs, who took Robinson into custody. When Robinson confronted the white officers who arrived on the scene to "investigate" his behavior (and the stenographer summoned to take his statement), the officers recommended that he be court-martialled. After Robinson's commander in the 761st, Paul L. Bates, refused to authorize the legal action, Robinson was summarily transferred to the 758th Battalion where the commander quickly consented to charge Robinson with insubordination, disturbing the peace, drunkenness, conduct unbecoming an officer, insulting a civilian woman, and refusing to obey the lawful orders of a superior officer.[29] By the time of the court-martial in August 1944, the charges had been reduced to include only Robinson's alleged insubordination during questioning; the actual incident on the bus that had inaugurated the episode was not mentioned in the charges or at the trial. Robinson was acquitted by an all-white panel of nine officers. He was transferred again, to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, where he served as a coach for army athletics until he received an honorable discharge in November 1944.[30] Although his former unit, the 761st Tank Battalion, eventually become the first black tank unit to see combat, Robinson never saw combat action during World War II.[31] Baseball career Jackie Robinson's Major League debut ended approximately sixty years of baseball segregation, also known as the baseball color line. His career started at the advanced age of 28 so he only played 10 seasons; all of them for the Brooklyn Dodgers.[32] During his career, the Dodgers played in six World Series and Jackie played in six All-Star games.[33] He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and a member of the All-Century Team. Robinson scored more than 100 home runs in six seasons and had a .311 career batting average, a .409 career on-base percentage, and substantially more walks (740) than strikeouts (291).[32][34] Robinson led the league in fielding in 1948, 1950 and 1951.[35] He stole home 19 times in his career, the most since World War I, and he is one of twelve players to have stolen home in the World Series.[36] Although Jackie played every game of his rookie season at first base, Robinson spent most of his career as a second baseman.[37] In his first seven seasons, from 1947 to 1953, Robinson averaged over 110 runs, a feat no other player has matched.[38] During his career from 1947 to 1956, Robinson was one of two players with 125 steals and a slugging percentage over .425. He had 197 steals and a .474 slugging percentage. Minnie Minoso with 127 steals and a .479 percentage was the other player.[35] In 1953 he had 109 runs, a 0.329 batting average, and 17 steals. In 1954 Jackie had 62 runs, a 0.311 batting average, and 7 steals.[34] Oakland Tribune sportswriter Dave Newhouse polled 68 experts in order to create an all-time baseball lineup. He chose Jackie Robinson for second base despite the fact that Joe Morgan had the best numbers. He also considered Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, Frankie Frisch and Roberto Alomar for the spot. He chose Robinson because in his opinion Jackie had the most character and was the best second basemen at running the bases and disrupting the offense.[39] 1947–Breaking the color barrier Cover of a Jackie Robinson comic book, issue#5, 1951 Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired by the LA Dodgers in 1972 In the mid-1940s, Branch Rickey was club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers began to scout Robinson who had joined the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs in 1945 after his discharge from the Army. He played shortstop and had a batting average of .387. Rickey eventually selected him from a list of promising African-American players and assigned him to the Montreal Royals (the Brooklyn Dodgers Triple-A farm club) as a prelude to bringing him to the Dodgers.[40] Rickey wanted a man who could restrain himself from responding to the ugliness of the racial hatred that was certain to come.[41] Rickey reminded Robinson that he would face tremendous racial animus, and insisted that he not take the bait and react angrily. Robinson was aghast: "Do you want a player afraid to fight back?"[36] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with the guts not to fight back."[36] Robinson agreed to abide by Rickey's terms for his first year.[36] In 1946 Jackie Robinson came to Daytona Beach,

Florida for spring training with the Montreal Royals. He was banned from playing in Jacksonville and Sanford, but not in Daytona. He played his first integrated game for a team in Organized Ball on March 17, 1946. His first plate appearance came in an exhibition game against the Royals' parent club, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson thus became the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues since the baseball color line was implemented in 1889.[42] Jackie proceeded to lead the International League with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage.[43] It was the first time an African-American had played Class AA baseball without being passed off as a Cuban, a Mexican, or an Indian. Montreal was forced to cancel a Southern exhibition tour, but in the first regular season game Robinson had four hits including a home run.[44] Although away tours were emotionally taxing due to the virulent hostility he faced, Robinson played well for Montreal, where the local fans welcomed him as their summer hero with reassuring enthusiasm, and six days before the start of the season the Dodgers called him up. On April 15, 1947 he made his debut before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, 14,000 of whom were black. Although he didn't get a base hit, the Dodgers won 5–3.[45] Robinson became the first player since 1887 to break the Baseball color line.[46] That winter he married Rachel Isum, his former UCLA classmate.[27] The nation was initially divided on whether Robinson should be allowed to play. Virtually all blacks and many whites applauded the decision as long overdue, but a large number of whites also objected. Many major league players also objected. Most newspapers supported the move. Robinson's integration and subsequent high level of play was a major blow to segregation and caused racial barriers to fall in other areas. Robinson criticized hotels that didn't allow him to stay with his teammates, and a number of hotels and restaurants that the Dodgers frequented integrated as a result.[47] During his first season with the Dodgers Robinson encountered racism from fans and players, some even from his own teammates.[48] He anticipated that some pitchers would aim pitches at his head and that other players would try to hit, tackle, and even try to push him off the basepaths.[47] Some Dodger players insinuated they would sit out rather than play alongside Robinson. The brewing mutiny ended when Dodger management took a stand for Robinson. 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. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded."[49] When other teams, notably the Cardinals, threatened to strike if Robinson played, NL President Ford Frick let it be known that they would be suspended.[50] On April 22, 1947, during a game between the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies players called Jackie a "nigger" from their dugout and yelled that he should "go back to the cotton fields."[51] Rickey would later recall that Phillies' manager Ben Chapman "did more than anybody to unite the Dodgers. When he poured out that string of unconscionable abuse, he solidified and united thirty men."[52] In front of KeySpan Park there is a statue of Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese with his arm around Robinson. It commemorates a piece of baseball folklore: that in 1947 Reese put his arm around Robinson in response to fans who had shouted racial slurs at Robinson before a game in Cincinnati. This story stood for decades as a symbol of racial tolerance but later became a source of controversy. That Reese put his arm around Robinson is not in dispute, but it probably happened in 1948.[53] Reese also once came to his friend's defense with the famous line "You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them."[54] Blacks were not the only minority discriminated against in baseball. Jewish baseball star Hank Greenberg also had to deal with racial epithets during his career. Greenberg and Robinson once collided at first base, and Greenberg whispered a few words into Robinson's ear. Asked by reporters what Greenberg said, Robinson replied "He gave me a few words of encouragement."[55] Greenberg had advised him that the best way to combat the slurs from the opposing dugout was to beat them on the field.[55] That year, he played in 151 games, hit .297, led the National League in stolen bases and won the first-ever Rookie of the Year Award.[48] In the October 1948 issue of SPORT magazine, Robinson said he did not expect to see baseball's color barrier fall in his lifetime. "I thought it would take another war," he said.[56] 1948 Statue at Montreal's Olympic Stadium made by sculptor Jules LasalleIn 1948 Jackie Robinson moved to his natural position at second base,[57] and led the league in fielding.[35] Robinson had a batting average of .296 and 22 stolen bases (fourth in the National League) for the year.[34][58] He also hit for the cycle on August 29, 1948 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 12-7 Dodger win; hitting a home run, a triple, a double, and a single.[35] The Dodgers briefly moved into first place in the National League in late August 1948, but ultimately finished third as the Braves went on to win the league title and ultimately lose to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.[59] The pressure on Robinson lessened in 1948 with a number of other black players now in the majors. Larry Doby and Satchel Paige played for the Cleveland Indians, and the Dodgers had three other black players besides Robinson.[57] In February 1948 he signed a $12,500 contract with the Dodgers, which was less than he made in the off season from a Vaudeville tour, where he answered pre-set baseball questions, and a speaking tour of the South. Between the tours, he underwent a surgery on his right ankle. Due to his off season activities, Robinson reported to training camp 30 pounds overweight.[60] He lost the weight during training camp, but the dieting left him week at the plate.[60] 1949 Robinson "exploded" in 1949,[57] and won the 1949 Most Valuable Player award for the National League, leading the league with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases.[61] Robinson's 37 steals in 1949 were the most in the National League since 1930.[36] By this point he had galvanized fan support to the point that a popular song, Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?, reached the national Billboard R&B chart.[62] The Dodgers won the National League pennant, losing 4-1 to the New York Yankees in the World Series.[57] In the Spring of 1949, Robinson turned to George Sisler for batting help. At

Sisler's suggestion he spent hours at the batting tee learning to hit the ball to right field. Sisler had Jackie prepare for a fastball instead of a curveball based on his theory that it is easier to adjust to the slower curveball. "Sisler showed me how to stop lunging, how to check my swing until the last fraction of a second" Robinson said. He raised his batting average for 0.296 to 0.342 and was second in the league in doubles and triples.[63] 1950 Jackie Robinons lead the National League in the most Double Plays Made by a second baseman with 133 in 1950.[35] By 1950 his salary was the highest amount paid to that point in Dodgers history: $35,000.[64] His promised silence had also elapsed and by July 1949 Robinson was testifying on discrimination before the House Unamerican Activities Committee,[65] pleasing Americans worried about communism.[66] The time became right for a film biography of his life, but two studios turned the project down when the film's promoters refused to include a white man teaching Robinson how to be a great player.[66] In 1950 he appeared in a film biography, The Jackie Robinson Story in which he played himself. Actress Ruby Dee played Rachael "Rae" (Isum) Robinson.[66] The New York Times wrote that Robinson was "doing that rare thing of playing himself in the picture's leading role, displays a calm assurance and composure that might be envied by many a Hollywood star."[66] 1951 Jackie Robinson lead the National League in the most Double Plays Made by a second baseman for the second year in a row with 137 in 1951.[35] He single-handedly kept the Dodgers in the race for the 1951 pennant. During the final game of the regular season against Philadelphia he made a season-saving defensive play in the 12th inning and then hit a game-winning home run in the 14th inning. This forced a three-game playoff against the Giants. Despite Robinson's regular season heroics the Dodgers lost the pennant on Bobby Thomson's famous home run in the last at bat of Game 3 on Oct. 3, 1951. Robinson stood with hands on hips and watched Thomson's feet in case he failed to touch all of the bases. Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully felt that showed "how much of a competitor Robinson was".[67] 1952–1955 Jackie Robinson had an average year compared to his career in 1952.[68] He hit two home runs and two doubles on June 17, 1954, his best day at the plate.[35] In 1952, Robinson accused the Yankees of predjudice and challenged Yankees general mangaer George Weiss to prove him wrong.[69] He made the statement on the television show Youth Wants to Know. Sportswriter Dick Young, whom Jackie had described as a "bigot", said "if there is one flaw in Jackie, it was the common one. He believed that everything unpleasant that happened to him happened because of his blackness."[70] Robinson later won his only championship ring when the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, the worst year of his career. Robinson hit .256 and stole only 12 bases in 1955. He was 37 years old, missed 49 games, and didn't play in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series.[67] After the 1956 season Robinson was traded by the Dodgers to the archrival New York Giants for Dick Littlefield and $35,000 cash. Although this is frequently cited as the reason for Robinson's retirement, the situation was more complicated. Before the trade he had already agreed with the president of Chock full o'Nuts to quit baseball and become a top executive with the company. This, and an disagreement between his friend Rickey and team owner Walter O'Malley, led to Robinson announcing his retirement through Look magazine instead of through the Dodgers.[71] In 1956 he stole his way around the bases, the first to do so in 26 years.[36] Recent statistical analysis has also indicated that Robinson was an outstanding defensive player throughout his career.[72][73] Assessing himself, Robinson said "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being."[54] Post-baseball life Jackie Robinson and his son David being interviewed at the "March on Washington" August 28, 1963 From the National Archives The gravesite of Jackie Robinson in Cypress Hills Cemeteryin Brooklyn, New York.Jackie Robinson retired from baseball on January 5, 1957. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility,[31] becoming the first African-American so honored. In 1965 Robinson served as an analyst for ABC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts. On June 4, 1972 the Dodgers retired his uniform number 42 alongside Roy Campanella (39) and Sandy Koufax (32).[74] Robinson became a vice-president for the Chock Full O' Nuts corporation, and served on the board of the NAACP until 1967, when he resigned.[75] In 1964 he became one of six national directors for Nelson Rockefeller's Republican presidential campaign and later became special assistant for community affairs when Rockefeller was re-elected governor of New York in 1966.[3] In 1970 Robinson established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company to build housing for families with low incomes.[10] Robinson made his final public appearance on October 14, 1972 before Game 2 of the World Series. He used this chance to express his wish for a black manager to be hired by a Major League Baseball team.[76] This wish was granted two years later following the 1974 season when the Cleveland Indians gave their managerial post to Frank Robinson, a Hall of Fame bound slugger who was then still an active player, and no relation to Jackie Robinson. At the press conference to announce his hiring Frank expressed his wish that Jackie had lived to see the moment.[77] In 1971 Robinson's oldest son Jackie, Jr., who had beaten back drug problems and was working as a Daytop Village counselor, was killed in an automobile accident.[78] Robinson's body, which had served him well as an athlete, failed early. Heart disease complications and Diabetes weakened him and made him almost blind by middle age. On October 24, 1972, he died of a heart attack at age 53 in Stamford, Connecticut.[79] Awards and recognition A statue of Jackie Robinson in Stamford, Connecticut, where a major street has the honorary name Jackie Robinson Way.Jackie Robinson's contributions have been recognized in a number of ways. He ranks highly in a number of polls and lists, has received several awards, and had buildings and events named in his honor. According to a poll conducted by Jimmie Fidler in 1947, Robinson was the second most popular man in the country, behind Bing Crosby.[80] In 1999, he was named by Time Magazine on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.[81] Also in 1999, he ranked number 44 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote getter for second basemen.[82][83] Baseball writer Bill James in the "The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" ranked Robinson as the 32nd greatest player of all time based strictly on his performance on the field, noting that he was one of the top players in the league throughout his career.[84] Major League Baseball has honored Robinson several times since his death. In 1987 the Rookie of the Year Award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in honor of its first winner.[85] On April 15, 1997, Robinson's #42 was retired by Major League Baseball meaning no future player on any major league team can wear it. It was retired in ceremonies at Shea Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of Robinson's first game with the Dodgers.[5] A handful of players who wore #42 as a salute to Robinson, such as the Mets' Butch Huskey and Boston's Mo Vaughn, were allowed to continue to use the number.[86] Robinson has also been recognized outside of baseball. In December 1956 the NAACP recognized him with the Spingarn Medal, which it awards annually for the highest achievement by an African American.[3] In March 1984 President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[87] On October 29, 2003, the United States Congress posthumously awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award the Congress can bestow. Robinson's widow accepted the award in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on March 2, 2005. Robinson is only the second baseball player to get the Congressional Gold Medal, with Roberto Clemente being the other baseball player to receive the medal.[88] On August 20, 2007 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver announced that he would be inducted into the California Hall of Fame on December 5, 2007 located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento.[89] Memorial bust of Jackie and Mack Robinson at City Hall, Pasadena, CA.Robinson has had a number of buildings named in his honor. The UCLA Bruins Baseball team plays in the Jackie Robinson Stadium.[90] The Chicago Public School system has named an elementary school after Jackie Robinson,[91] and Dorsey High School, in Los Angeles

named their football stadium after him.[92] At the November 2006 ground-breaking for a new New York Mets ballpark, Citi Field (scheduled to open in 2009) it was announced that the main entrance, modeled on the one in Brooklyn's old Ebbets Field, will be called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Additionally, Mets owner Fred Wilpon said that the Mets and Citigroup would work with the Jackie Robinson Foundation to create a Jackie Robinson Museum and Learning Center in lower Manhattan and would fund scholarships for "young people who live by and embody Jackie's ideals."[93] In 1976 his home in Brooklyn, the Jackie Robinson House, was declared a National Historic Landmark.[94] Jackie Robinson Day Main article: Jackie Robinson Day Logo of "Jackie Robinson's Day" April 15, 2007Each year on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated, commemorating and honoring the day Robinson made his major league debut. Jackie Robinson Day was initiated in 2004 and has been celebrated every year since. On April 15, 2007, the 60th anniversary of Robinson's major league debut, Major League Baseball invited players to wear the number 42 just for that day to commemorate Robinson. The gesture was the idea of Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., who first sought Rachel Robinson's permission, and, after receiving it, asked Commissioner Bud Selig for permission. Selig extended the invitation to all major league teams.[95] Ultimately, more than 200 players wore number 42, including the entire rosters of the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.[96] The tribute was continued in 2008, when, during the April 15 games, all members of the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and Tampa Bay Rays wore Robinson's # 42.[97] See also List of first black Major League Baseball players by team and date DHL Hometown Heroes List of African-American firsts List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters Hitting for the cycle List of Major League Baseball batting champions List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions Notes ^ Rothe, p544 ^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.201, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0 ^ a b c "Baseball, the Color Line, and Jackie Robinson". Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ a b Williams, Michael W.- Editor. An African American Encyclopedia. 1993. ^ a b "Baseball remembers Jackie Robinson - International Herald Tribune". International Herald Tribune (April 16, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-01. ^ Jackie Robinson Star Ballplayer Stars in a Movie. Life Magazine, May 8, 1950 ^ Bigelow, p225 ^ a b c Rampersad pp10-11 ^ "White House Dream Team: Jackie Roosevelt Robinson". Whitehouse.gov. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ a b c "Biography". The Official Site of Jackie Robinson. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ Robinson, p9 ^ Rampersad, p35 ^ Rampersad, p36 ^ Robinson, p9 ^ "Jackie Robinson Biography (1919 - 1972)". biography.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-08. ^ Rampersad, pp 36-37 ^ Rampersad, p37 ^ Rampersad, pp37-39 ^ Rampersad, pp40-41 ^ Rampersad, p47 ^ Rampersad, pp50-53 ^ Rampersad, p54 ^ Rampersad, pp59-61 ^ Violett, B.J. (1997). "Teammates Recall Jackie Robinson's Legacy". UCLA Today. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ "Kenny Washington". Encyclopedia Brittanica. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ "Jackie Robinson withdraws from university". xtimeline.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-06. ^ a b "Gale - Free Resources - Black History - Biographies - Jackie Robinson". ^ Patrick, Denise L. (2005). Jackie Robinson:Strong Inside and Out. New York, New York: Collins, 11. ISBN 0060576014. ^ "The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson," by Jules Tygiel, American Heritage Magazine, August/September 1984 ^ "Jackie Robinson Papers (Library of Congress)". ^ a b "Featured Baseball Personalities – Jackie Robinson – Historic Baseball Resources (Library of Congress)". loc.gov. Retrieved on 2008-10-06. ^ a b Kindred, Dave (July, 1999). "The No. 1 Most Significant Development in the 20th Century". The Sporting News. Retrieved on 2008-10-31. ^ "Robinson honored with new Hall of Fame plaque". ESPN (June 25, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-10-31. ^ a b c "Historical Player Stats". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ a b c d e f g Lester, Larry (2007). "My Hero - Jackie Robinson". LarryLester42.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-30. ^ a b c d e f "Jackie Robinson". Baseball Library (2006). Retrieved on 2008-10-10. ^ Singer, Tom. "The pioneer". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ Simon, Mark. "Remembering Jackie Robinson". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-10-31. ^ Jenkins, Bruce (August 20, 1998). "Gems of the Diamond". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2008-10-31. ^ Povich, Shirley (March 28, 1997). "The Ball Stayed White, but the Game Did Not". Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ Schwartz, Larry (2007). "Jackie changed face of sports". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. ^ James Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me, Simon & Schuster: New York, 1995, p. 163 ^ TheJournalofSportsHistory.org ^ "Jackie Makes Good". Time (August 26, 1946). Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ "The Dodgers Encyclopedia". William McNeil. Google Books. Retrieved on 2008-10-08. ^ "Myths in Sports: The Jackie Robinson Edition". The Sporting News (April 11, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ a b "Jackie Robinson". Wormser, Richard. pbs.org. Retrieved on 2008-10-08. ^ a b "Jackie Robinson breaks major league color barrier". History. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ Kirwin, 198 ^ Eig, 95 ^ Ken Burns' documentary, Baseball, Part 6, minute 120 ^ Ken Burns' documentary, Baseball, Part 6, minute 122 ^ Barra, Allen (April 24th 2007). "Debunkers Strike Out". Village Voice. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ a b Newman, Mark (04/13/2007). "1947: A time for change". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ a b Mathews, Jack (January 12th 2000). "'Greenberg' A Home Run". New York Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. ^ "The Discerning Texan". discerningtexan.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-28. ^ a b c d The Dodgers Encyclopedia By William McNeil ^ "Stolen Bases : 1949 National League Top 25". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved on 2008-10-30. ^ Lowenfish, Lee (2007). Branch Rickey. University of Nebraska Press, 461. ISBN 0803211031. ^ a b Linge, Mary Kay (2007). Jackie Robinson. Greenwood Press, 71-72. ISBN 0313338280. ^ Schwartz, Larry (2007). "Jackie Changed the Face of Sports". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-10-31. ^ "Bad Dog Blues Radio". baddogblues.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-28. ^ The Sizzler By Rick Huhn ^ Santella, Andrew (1996). Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Line. Children's Press, 17. ISBN 0516066374. ^ "Un-American Activities, House Committee on". History.com. Retrieved on 2008-11-12. ^ a b c d Bogle, Donald (2001). Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks. Continuum, 184-185. ISBN 0826412676. ^ a b Bloom, Barry (4/13/2007). "Robinson made impact on field, too". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ Jackie Robinson By Joseph Dorinson, Dorinson, Joram Warmund, Charles E. Schumer ^ "The Legacy of Race Through Time". New York Daily News (April 13th, 1997). Retrieved on 2008-10-28. ^ Great Time Coming By David Falkner ^ Bloom, Barry (06/04/2007). "Jackie Robinson: Gone but not forgotten". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ "Jackie Robinson". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved on 2008-10-08. ^ Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, p. 502-503 | Historical Abstract ^ "The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers: History: Dodgers Retired Numbers". ^ "Jackie Robinson League Baseball Dodgers Major Players Rickey". economicexpert.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-28. ^ "Robinson would have mixed view of today's game". Helyar, John. espn.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ "Frank Robinson Quotes". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ "Jackie Robinson Dies". The Bryan Times (October 24, 1972). Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ Jackie changed face of sports, Larry (August 15, 2006). "Jackie changed face of sports". Retrieved on 2008-10-11. ^ "Jackie Robinson". fulton.k12.ga.us. Retrieved on 2008-10-08. ^ "TIME 100: Jackie Robinson". time.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". The Sporting News (1999). 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Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ "METS HONOR ROBINSON AT NEW HOME", New York Daily News (2006-11-14). Retrieved on 7 April 2007. ^ "Historic sports sites rarely take landmark status". USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. ^ "Griffey, Jr., others to wear No. 42 as part of Jackie Robinson Day Tribute", MLB (2007-04-05). Retrieved on 7 April 2007. ^ "A Measure of Respect for Jackie Robinson

Turns Into a Movement", The New York Times (2007-04-13). Retrieved on 15 April 2007. ^ "Robinson's legacy celebrated at Shea". MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07. References Bigelow, Barbara Carlisle, ed. Contemporary Black Biography vol. 6. Gale Research Inc. 1994. ISBN 0-8103-8558-9 Eig, Jonathan. Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2007. ISBN 978-07432-9460-7 Frommer, Harvey. Jackie Robinson Watts Press, 1984. Journal of Sports History - http://thejournalofsportshistory.org/history-of-baseball/jackie-robinson-a-triple-threat.html Kirwin, Bill. Out of the Shadows: African American Baseball from the Cuban Giants to Jackie Robinson. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005. ISBN 978-08032-7825-7 MLB.com - http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/history/retired_numbers.jsp Moritz, Charles, ed. Current Biography Yearbook 1972, H.W. Wilson Co, New York, 1972. ISBN 0-8242-0493-X Rampersad, Arnold. Jackie Robinson, a Biography, Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1997. ISBN 0-679-44495-5 Robinson, Jackie. I Never Had It Made. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1972 Robinson, Sharon. Promises To Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America Scholastic, 2004. Rothe, Anna, ed. Current Biography, Who's News and Why 1947, H.W. Wilson Co, New York, 1948. SPORT magazine, October 1948. Thorn, John. "Our Game" pp1-10 In Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball 7th ed. John Thorn et al eds. Total Sports Publishing, New York, 1992 Tygiel, Jules. Baseball's Great Experiment, Oxford (USA), New York, ISBN 0195106199 Williams, Michael W.- Ed. An African American Encyclopedia 1993. External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Jackie RobinsonWikimedia Commons has media related to: Jackie Robinsonjackierobinson.com Official Website jackierobinson.org Jackie Robinson Foundation Website archives.gov Correspondences with the White House Baseball Hall of Fame – Member biography Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube Jackie Robinson at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-03-19 Baseball Library New Georgia Encyclopedia Entry on Robinson [show]Accomplishments Preceded by Pete Reiser Richie Ashburn National League Stolen Base Champion 1947 1949 Succeeded by Richie Ashburn Sam Jethroe Preceded by First Winner Major League Rookie of the Year 1947 Succeeded by Alvin Dark Preceded by Stan Musial National League Most Valuable Player 1949 Succeeded by Jim Konstanty Preceded by Stan Musial National League Batting Champion 1949 Succeeded by Stan Musial [show]v • d • eBrooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Champions 1 Pee Wee Reese | 4 Duke Snider | 6 Carl Furillo | 8 George Shuba | 12 Frank Kellert | 14 Gil Hodges | 15 Sandy Amorós | 17 Carl Erskine | 19 Jim Gilliam | 23 Don Zimmer | 30 Billy Loes | 34 Russ Meyer | 36 Don Newcombe | 37 Ed Roebuck | 39 Roy Campanella | 40 Roger Craig | 41 Clem Labine | 42 Jackie Robinson | 43 Don Hoak | 45 Johnny Podres | 46 Don Bessent | 48 Karl Spooner Manager 24 Walter Alston [show]v • d • eNational League Rookie of the Year Award 1947: J. Robinson | 1948: Dark | 1949: Newcombe | 1950: Jethroe | 1951: Mays | 1952: Black | 1953: Gilliam | 1954: Moon | 1955: Virdon | 1956: F. Robinson | 1957: Sanford | 1958: Cepeda | 1959: McCovey | 1960: F. Howard | 1961: B. Williams | 1962: Hubbs | 1963: Rose | 1964: Allen | 1965: Lefebvre | 1966: Helms | 1967: Seaver | 1968: Bench | 1969: Sizemore | 1970: Morton | 1971: E. Williams | 1972: Matlack | 1973: Matthews | 1974: McBride | 1975: Montefusco | 1976: Metzger / Zachry | 1977: Dawson | 1978: Horner | 1979: Sutcliffe | 1980: Howe | 1981: Valenzuela | 1982: Sax | 1983: Strawberry | 1984: Gooden | 1985: Coleman | 1986: Worrell | 1987: Santiago | 1988: Sabo | 1989: Walton | 1990: Justice | 1991: Bagwell | 1992: Karros | 1993: Piazza | 1994: Mondesi | 1995: Nomo | 1996: Hollandsworth | 1997: Rolen | 1998: Wood | 1999: Williamson | 2000: Furcal | 2001: Pujols | 2002: Jennings | 2003: Willis | 2004: Bay | 2005: R. Howard | 2006: Ramírez | 2007: Braun | 2008: Soto [show]v • d • eNational League MVP Award 1931: Frisch | 1932: Klein | 1933: Hubbell | 1934: Dean | 1935: Hartnett | 1936: Hubbell | 1937: Medwick | 1938: Lombardi | 1939: Walters | 1940: McCormick | 1941: Camilli | 1942: Cooper | 1943: Musial | 1944: Marion | 1945: Cavarretta | 1946: Musial | 1947: Elliott | 1948: Musial | 1949: J. Robinson | 1950: Konstanty | 1951: Campanella | 1952: Sauer | 1953: Campanella | 1954: Mays | 1955: Campanella | 1956: Newcombe | 1957: Aaron | 1958: Banks | 1959: Banks | 1960: Groat | 1961: F. Robinson | 1962: Wills | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Boyer | 1965: Mays | 1966: Clemente | 1967: Cepeda | 1968: B. Gibson | 1969: McCovey | 1970: Bench | 1971: Torre | 1972: Bench | 1973: Rose | 1974: Garvey | 1975: Morgan | 1976: Morgan | 1977: Foster | 1978: Parker | 1979: Hernandez & Stargell | 1980: Schmidt | 1981: Schmidt | 1982: Murphy | 1983: Murphy | 1984: Sandberg | 1985: McGee | 1986: Schmidt | 1987: Dawson | 1988: K. Gibson | 1989: Mitchell | 1990: Bonds | 1991: Pendleton | 1992: Bonds | 1993: Bonds | 1994: Bagwell | 1995: Larkin | 1996: Caminiti | 1997: Walker | 1998: Sosa | 1999: Jones | 2000: Kent | 2001: Bonds | 2002: Bonds | 2003: Bonds | 2004: Bonds | 2005: Pujols | 2006: Howard | 2007: Rollins| 2008: Pujols [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball All-Century Team Pitchers Nolan Ryan · Sandy Koufax · Cy Young · Roger Clemens · Bob Gibson · Walter Johnson · Warren Spahn · Christy Mathewson · Lefty Grove Infielders Johnny Bench · Yogi Berra · Lou Gehrig · Mark McGwire · Jackie Robinson · Rogers Hornsby · Mike Schmidt · Brooks Robinson · Cal Ripken, Jr. · Ernie Banks · Honus Wagner Outfielders Babe Ruth · Hank Aaron · Ted Williams · Willie Mays · Joe DiMaggio · Mickey Mantle · Ty Cobb · Ken Griffey, Jr. · Pete Rose · Stan Musial [show]v • d • eLos Angeles Dodgers Retired Numbers #1 Pee Wee Reese • #2 Tommy Lasorda • #4 Duke Snider • #19 Jim Gilliam • #20 Don Sutton • #24 Walter Alston • #32 Sandy Koufax • #39 Roy Campanella • #42 Jackie Robinson • #53 Don Drysdale [show]v • d • eBaseball Hall of Fame Class of 1962 BBWAA Vote Bob Feller (93.75) • Jackie Robinson (77.5%) Veterans Committee Bill McKechnie • Edd Roush [show]v • d • eSecond basemen in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Rod Carew • Eddie Collins • Bobby Doerr • Johnny Evers • Nellie Fox • Frankie Frisch • Charlie Gehringer • Frank Grant • Billy Herman • Rogers Hornsby • Nap Lajoie • Tony Lazzeri • Bill Mazeroski • Bid McPhee • Joe Morgan • Jackie Robinson • Ryne Sandberg • Red Schoendienst [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball on ABC Related programs Major League Baseball Game of the Week · Monday Night Baseball · Thursday Night Baseball · Baseball Night in America Related articles The Baseball Network · Ratings for ABC telecasts · World Series television ratings · Television contracts Commentators List of ABC commentators · All-Star Game · ALCS · ALDS · NLCS · NLDS · One-game playoffs · World Series Key figures Gary Bender · Buddy Blattner · Jack Buck · Howard Cosell · Dizzy Dean · Don Drysdale · Carl Erskine · Curt Gowdy · Merle Harmon · Keith Jackson · Reggie Jackson · Jim Kaat · Tim McCarver · Al Michaels · Joe Morgan · Brent Musburger · Jim Palmer · Ross Porter · Bob Prince · Jackie Robinson · Chris Schenkel · Gary Thorne · Bob Uecker · Earl Weaver · Bill White · Warner Wolf Lore The Call · Loma Prieta earthquake · The Double League Championship Series 1976 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1978 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1980 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1982 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1984 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1986 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1988 (ALCS/NLCS) · 1995 (ALCS/NLCS) All-Star Games 1976 · 1978 · 1980 · 1982 · 1984 · 1986 · 1988 · 1995 World Series 1977 · 1979 · 1981 · 1983 · 1985 · 1987 · 1989 · 1995 Persondata NAME Robinson, Jackie ALTERNATIVE NAMES Robinson, Jack Roosevelt (full name) SHORT DESCRIPTION American baseball player DATE OF BIRTH January 31, 1919(1919-01-31) PLACE OF BIRTH Cairo, Georgia DATE OF DEATH October 24, 1972 PLACE OF DEATH Stamford, Connecticut Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Robinson" Categories: 1919 births | 1972 deaths | Jackie Robinson | National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees | Major League Baseball second basemen | Negro league baseball players | Brooklyn Dodgers players | Kansas City Monarchs players | National League All-Stars | Major League Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state) | African American baseball players | National League batting champions | National League stolen base champions | Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners | Baseball players who have hit for the cycle | Major League Baseball announcers | International League Hall of Fame | African Americans' rights activists | Congressional Gold Medal recipients | Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients | United States Army officers | American military personnel of World War II | UCLA Bruins football players | UCLA Bruins men's basketball players | University of California, Los Angeles alumni | American Methodists | Racism | People from Pasadena, California | People from Brooklyn | People from New York City | People from Stamford, Connecticut | Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees | People with diabetes | Major League Baseball players with retired numbers | African American conservatism