Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, who joined Main League Baseball in 1947, was born right into a household concerned in farming in Cairo, Georgia, On this present day in historical past, January 31, 1919.
His struggle for racial equality and his exploits on the sector of play made him the primary North American athlete to have his jersey quantity (42) retired by each workforce in his recreation.
Amongst his many accomplishments on the diamond, Robinson was a four-sport all-star at UCLA. It was extensively thought-about one of the crucial thrilling School soccer gamers of his period. Moreover, he served within the US Military in World Conflict II, the place he first advocated for racial equality.
says Jackie Robinson.com, the official web site of the late-night sports activities legend.
On this historic day, Jan. 30, 1933, ‘THE LONE RANGER DEBUTS, TROTTING INTO AMERICAN CULTURAL LORE’
From this humble starting, he’ll develop to be the primary baseball participant to interrupt Main League BaseballThe colour barrier that has separated sports activities for greater than 50 years.
Robinson hit the sector for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, after excelling on the Montreal farm workforce in 1946.
American baseball participant Jackie Robinson, #42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers, poses on this undated photograph, circa 1947-1956.
(file photograph/MLB Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)
“This was an eagerly awaited debut on Nationwide Amusement Data,” authors Robert Lipsit and Pete Levine write in Idols of the Sport.
It represented each the dream and the concern of equal alternative, and would without end change the character of the sport and the attitudes of Individuals.
“It was the eagerly awaited debut on Nationwide Amusement Data.” – Robert Lipsit and Pete Levine in Idols of the Sport
Robinson performed nicely sufficient that season to earn Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months honors and earn followers nationwide.
His presence modified the sport of baseball, opening the doorways for it to turn into the varied, multinational sport it’s right this moment.
Along with white, black, Asian, and Hispanic Individuals, greater than 1 / 4 of Main League Baseball final season have been foreign-born—representing 21 totally different international locations around the globe.
Along with altering the way forward for baseball, Robinson additionally modified the fortunes of a traditionally struggling Brooklyn franchise dubbed the “Dem Booms”.
The Dodgers have performed for many years within the shadows of their crosstown rivals New York Yankees within the Bronx and the New York Giants in Manhattan.
From left, Brooklyn Dodgers third baseman John Jorgensen, shortstop Pee Wee Reese, second baseman Ed Stanky and first baseman Jackie Robinson earlier than a baseball recreation towards the Boston Braves at Ebbets Discipline in Brooklyn, New York, on April 15, 1947.
(AP Photograph/Harry Harris, File)
They quickly reached their best interval of success with Robinson on the record.
Brooklyn gained Nationwide League pennants in 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953, although it misplaced the World Sequence annually.
Robinson and the Dodgers lastly broke by means of and beat the Yankees within the 1955 World Sequence, the group’s solely championship in additional than half a century of play in Brooklyn.
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Robinson left baseball after the 1956 season. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
In simply 10 years, Robinson has amassed an unimaginable record of particular person and collegiate honors: Rookie of the 12 months, Nationwide League Participant of the 12 months, Nationwide League Champion, two-time stolen base captain, six-time All-Star, and World Sequence champion.
“Robinson’s presence modified the sport of baseball, opening the door for it to turn into the varied, multinational sport it’s right this moment.”
Earlier than baseball, Robinson served the nation honorably within the US Military within the Second World Conflict.
Enlisted in 1942, commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1943, and assigned to the 761st Tank Battalion “Black Panthers” at Fort Hood, Texas, in accordance with the US Division of Protection.
There, he made a public stand for equal therapy on a army bus.
He wrote, “The driving force ordered Robinson to maneuver to the again of the bus, however Robinson refused. The driving force referred to as the army police, who detained Robinson. He was subsequently court-martialed, however acquitted.” Ministry of Protection.
After his acquittal, he was transferred to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, the place he served as its teacher Navy athletics Till receiving his discharge in November 1944.”
An 82-yard drive within the last 5 minutes of play earned the UCLA soccer workforce a 13-13 tie with Oregon State School in a large open battle staged in entrance of 40,000 followers. Statistics confirmed that the 2 groups are taking part in virtually on equal phrases with UCLA having a slight benefit. Photograph reveals proper half cease UCLA’s Jackie Robinson (#28) after receiving an 8-yard move from teammate Kenny Washington. Oregon State proper sort out Walter Gilsma seems at #56.
(Getty Photographs)
Robinson attended UCLA earlier than Uncle Sam referred to as him residence.
He stays the one participant in class historical past to jot down in 4 sports activities: baseball, soccer, basketball, and observe and discipline.
I remembered right this moment about his exploits on the diamond, he was a much bigger star on the gridiron in faculty.
“Robinson turned an All-American soccer participant who set the UCLA report for yards per carry in a season at 12.2 yards per try on 42 carries in 1939,” the NCAA reviews of his success with the pulque.
“Jackie Robinson made my success potential.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“He led the nation in punt return common in 1939 and 1940… He made the essential goal-line tackles in entrance of over 103,000 followers in a scoreless recreation towards eventual nationwide champion Southern California within the common season finale for rivals in Los Angeles.”
In observe and discipline, Robinson gained “Pacific Coast Convention and NCAA titles within the lengthy soar with jumps of 25-0 and 24-10,” the NCAA reviews.
“Had the 1940 and 1944 Olympics not been canceled due to World Conflict II, Robinson in all probability would have competed.”
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Nonetheless, he fought his struggle for equality as an expert and gained a baseball diamond.
Robinson was elected to the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1962. He acquired an unprecedented honor on April 15, 1997, the fiftieth anniversary of his debut with the Dodgers, when his quantity was retired by each main league workforce.
Jackie Robinson, in uniform, turned the primary African American to signal with a white skilled baseball workforce. He signed a contract with a minor league membership in Montreal, a farm workforce for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
(Getty Photographs)
This uncommon recognition has solely been repeated twice since then in North American sports activities.
Wayne Gretzky retired No. 99 by an all-NHL workforce in 2000; The Nationwide Basketball Affiliation introduced final 12 months that Invoice Russell’s No. 6 can be retired by each workforce in his league.
“With out him, I couldn’t have completed what I did.”
Robinson suffered from unwell well being after his taking part in profession. He was solely 53 years previous when he suffered a coronary heart assault and died in 1972.
“Life is simply necessary in its impact on the lives of others,” Robinson mentioned in a extensively well-known quote.
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On this regard, few excelled higher than the nice baseball participant.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. later mentioned, “Jackie Robinson made my success potential.” “With out him, I couldn’t have completed what I did.”