Jackie Robinson Bio And Facts

Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt Robinson, or Jackie Robinson was the first Black Major League Baseball player. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Robinson was raised in a family of five by a single mother and grew up in poverty. Robinson crossed barriers when he became the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball when he signed to join the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Prior to Robinson’s MLB career, he played four different sports in high school: football, basketball, track, and baseball. He had influence from his older brother Matthew to pursue baseball even further, so Jackie went to UCLA where he became the first student to ever win varsity letters in four sports. However, Robinson was never able to graduate from UCLA due to financial difficulties. Robinson then went into the army to fight for the U.S. during World War II. By the time 1944 rolled around, Robinson began to play in the Negro Leagues, as professional baseball was still segregated.

• Birthday: January 31, 1919 (31-01-1919)
• Education: University of California Los Angeles
• Net Worth: $6 million
• Occupation: Baseball player
• Height: 5’10” (1.8 m)
• Weight: 204 lbs (92.53 kgs)
• Position: Infielder, First Baseman, Shortstop, Second Baseman
• Years Active: 10 years
• Nicknames: Dark Destroyer
• Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers

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Baseball Career

Robinson always had a passion for playing baseball and different sports throughout his childhood. Robinson played four different sports in high school: football, track and field, baseball, and basketball. Robinson continued to play all four throughout college at the University of California Los Angeles, but ultimately dropped out. Robinson did not continue his baseball career until after he was discharged from the war in 1944.

Robinson started out in the Negro Leagues but was chosen by the President of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey, to play for them and integrate the sport of baseball. Robinson persevered through many trials and tribulations of racism and had his first game with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947. By 1955, Robinson helped lead his team to the World Series and win. The Brooklyn Dodgers also won the National League pennant several times during Robinson’s tenure.

Titles and Awards

Because Robinson was the first Black Major League Baseball player, there were not many awards and titles that he had a fair chance at winning. Although Robinson persevered through the constant and consistent racism that came his way everyday and managed to be recognized for his achievements. In Robinson’s first year he batted .297 with 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant. Robinson won Rookie of the Year for his incredible contributions and teamwork. 

During the 1949 season, Robinson had a phenomenal batting average of .313, which was incredibly rare during that time. By 1955, Robinson had helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series and also helped his team win against the famed New York Yankees. Finally, Robinson also helped his team win the National League pennant one more time as well. By December of 1956, Robinson was traded to the New York Giants, but ended up retiring before he could play for them.

Personal Life

Jackie Robinson was raised by his single mother, Mallie Robinson, in a household with his four siblings Mack, Edward, Frank, and Willa. Robinson’s brother, Mack, was also an extremely talented athlete, and even went to the Olympics and won a silver medal in the track and field event.

Robinson made incredible strides toward eliminating segregation and bringing equality to the sports world by being the first Black Major League Baseball player. Robinson was very vocal about civil rights during his life and, in 1949, even testified about discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Robinson also made waves for calling out the New York Yankees for not breaking the color barrier when they had not signed a Black player to their team five years after Robinson was signed to the Dodgers. After Robinson’s death, his wife started the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which helps struggling young people that are in financial need with scholarships and mentoring programs.

Fun Facts

• Jackie Robinson was the first Black player in Major League Baseball.
• Robinson played four different sports in high school and college: football, track and field, basketball, and baseball.
• Robinson was named after President Teddy Roosevelt; his middle name is Roosevelt.
• Robinson was a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II.
• Jackie Robinson played a monumental and important role in the civil rights movement towards eliminating segregation.
• Robinson has his own foundation that was started by his wife, known as the Jackie Robinson Foundation
• Jackie Robinson's number, 42, is the only number in Major League Baseball to be retired league-wide.
• Every year on April 15, baseball players will wear number 42 to honor Jackie’s legacy.
• After Robinson retired from baseball, he became the first Black vice president at the major U.S. corporation Chock Full O’Nuts and founded the Freedom National Bank in Harlem in 1964.

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