Jackie Robinson: A remarkable life in 42 photos

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born Jan. 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. 

Jackie (second from the left) was the youngest of 5 brothers and sisters. Robinson’s keep in Georgia was short-lived, as he moved with mom and siblings to California shortly after his father left in 1920. 

Robinson turned a four-sport star at UCLA, incomes varsity letters in baseball, soccer, basketball and monitor and area. 

Robinson gained the 1940 NCAA Males’s Observe and Discipline Championships within the lengthy leap. Surprisingly, along with taking part in soccer and basketball, he performed only one season of baseball at UCLA, hitting solely .097, not the beginning you’d count on to result in a Corridor of Fame MLB profession.

Robinson was drafted in 1942 and served till 1944 when he obtained an honorable discharge after an incident the place he refused to take a seat behind a navy bus. He by no means truly noticed any fight. 

Robinson signed with the Kansas Metropolis Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, and it was right here the place he drew the eye of Brooklyn Dodgers basic supervisor Department Rickey. 

Robinson married his faculty sweetheart in February 1946. 

The couple welcomed its first little one to the world later that yr. 

Late in 1945 Robinson signed his historic take care of the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way in which for him to turn into the primary black participant in Main League Baseball. 

Robinson spent 1946 in Montreal taking part in for the Royals, the AAA affiliate of the Dodgers. 

Simply previous to the beginning of the 1947 season, Robinson will get the decision from the Dodgers to come back and be a part of the large league membership. 

He’s assigned No. 42, which might go on to turn into arguably probably the most iconic jersey quantity in MLB historical past. 

The Dodgers supervisor on the time was the legendary Leo Durocher, who was an outspoken champion for Robinson breaking the MLB colour barrier. 

Robinson makes his MLB debut on April 15, 1947, drawing a stroll and scoring a run in a 5-3 win. 

Whereas not everybody on the Dodgers was excited to have Robinson on the crew, most of his new teammates adopted their supervisor’s lead and welcomed him with open arms. 

Robinson’s first yr was an unmitigated success, the place he hit slightly below .300 whereas main the league in stolen bases on his method to his first World Collection. For his efforts, he was named Rookie of the Yr. 

One teammate particularly who got here out in robust assist of Robinson was Pee Wee Reese, who memorably as soon as put his arm round Robinson, a gesture that was later memorialized as a statue in Brooklyn. 

Jackie Robinson was the primary black participant to make the All-Star crew in 1949, and he made it 5 extra instances in every of the following 5 seasons. 

Robinson’s trials and tribulations whereas coping with racism on and off the sector are well-documented, however maybe nobody was as outspoken as Phillies supervisor Ben Chapman, who usually hurled racial epithets at Robinson from the Philadelphia dugout. 

Lengthy earlier than his profession ended, Robinson used his newfound fame to turn into a champion of civil rights throughout america. 

In the midst of his run with the Dodgers, Robinson starred in his personal biopic in 1950, reverse Ruby Dee. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robinson ended up with a complete of three youngsters: Jackie Jr., Sharon and David. 

Robinson took a task at NBC in 1952, which might later result in him breaking into broadcasting following his retirement from baseball. 

Just a few months after Robinson’s debut, Larry Doby broke the colour barrier within the American League, and the 2 shortly turned shut associates. 

Robinson’s greatest yr as a Dodger got here in 1949 when he led the league in batting common and steals whereas additionally scoring 122 runs and knocking in 124 runs on his method to his one and solely NL MVP award. 

The Dodgers made it to the World Collection a outstanding six instances throughout Jackie Robinson’s tenure there however have been bested by the Yankees throughout 5 of these journeys. 

In 1955, the Dodgers lastly acquired over the hump and defeated their crosstown adversary, giving Robinson his solely World Collection ring. 

Whereas the title would make the Dodgers the toast of the town, the celebration can be short-lived, as they might transfer to Los Angeles in 1957, one yr after Robinson retired. 

Robinson was all around the political spectrum, supporting candidates like Hubert Humphrey…

… to Nelson Rockefeller…

… to assembly Fidel Castro…

… and even supporting Richard Nixon’s presidential candidacy. 

Robinson spent the late Fifties and early a part of the Sixties combating for civil rights…

… together with on this picture with boxer Floyd Patterson earlier than the 2 boarded a flight to Birmingham. 

A bit of-remembered truth about Robinson is that the Dodgers truly traded him to the Giants following the 1956 season. Nonetheless…

… he by no means suited up for them, as an alternative saying his retirement from skilled baseball on the age of 37. 

Upon retirement, Robinson turned president of the Chock Full O’ Nuts firm. 

Robinson was elected to Cooperstown in 1962, his first yr of eligibility on the poll. He broke down one other colour barrier, changing into the primary African-American to be given baseball’s highest honor. 

Within the late ’60s Robinson did broadcast work for each ABC and the Montreal Expos, the town the place his skilled profession started. 

In 1966, Robinson turned basic supervisor of the Brooklyn Dodgers…of the Continental Soccer League, a professional soccer league that existed from 1965 to 1969. 

Jackie Robinson died on Oct. 24, 1972, from a coronary heart assault on the age of 53. Almost 3,000 individuals attended his funeral.

On April 15, 1997, Jackie Robinson turned the primary athlete to have his quantity retired league-wide. To at the present time, each participant within the league sports activities No. 42 on April 15 as a tribute to the long-lasting Robinson.