American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) of the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was announced Monday that Simms has been hired as a special . The event motivated Jackie to pursue his athletic career at the nearby University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he could remain closer to Frank's family. Sharon (born in 1950) had a successful . [199] Since Robinson had sold exclusive rights to any retirement story to Look magazine two years previously,[199] his retirement decision was revealed through the magazine, instead of through the Dodgers organization. In 1968, he suffered a heart attack. He was born during a Spanish flu and smallpox epidemic. [148][194], In 1954, Robinson had 62 runs scored, a .311 batting average, and 7 steals. Jackie Robinson was the youngest of five children, born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. [175] The project had been previously delayed when the film's producers refused to accede to demands of two Hollywood studios that the movie include scenes of Robinson being tutored in baseball by a white man. Growing up during the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and in the Robinson home where such issues were at the core of everyday life, David Robinson has spent the last 40 years involved in the development of racial and human opportunity. 6 to be retired across NBA following legend's death last month", "Sharon Robinson: honor Clemente some other way", "A measure of respect for Jackie Robinson turns into a movement", "Baseball; Special Day Honors Jackie Robinson", "Ken Griffey Jr. on Jackie Robinson and the decline of African-Americans in baseball", "Griffey, Jr., others to wear No. [42] At a time when only a few black students played mainstream college football, this made UCLA college football's most integrated team. [163] He also kept the Dodgers in contention for the 1951 pennant. [106], Robinson's promotion met a generally positive, although mixed, reception among newspapers and white major league players. Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia, and went on to become the first black player in the modern era of Major League Baseball. David Robinson, the youngest child of Jack and Rachel Robinson, was born in 1952. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. In Sanford, Florida, the police chief threatened to cancel games if Robinson and Wright did not cease training activities there; as a result, Robinson was sent back to Daytona Beach. In July, he was called to testify before the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) concerning statements made that April by black athlete and actor Paul Robeson. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. [52][81] Although he played well for the Monarchs, Robinson was frustrated with the experience. [4], Later in spring training, after some less-than-stellar performances, Robinson was shifted from shortstop to second base, allowing him to make shorter throws to first base. Early Life. [276] His youngest son, David, who has ten children, is a coffee grower and social activist in Tanzania. [64][80] Robinson accepted a contract for $400 per month. [131][137] However, racial tension existed in the Dodger clubhouse. The price was the highest ever paid for a post-World War II jersey.[340]. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy. "[257][258] This wish was only fulfilled after Robinson's death: following the 1974 season, the Cleveland Indians gave their managerial post to Frank Robinson (no relation to Jackie), a Hall of Fame-bound player who would go on to manage three other teams. Rickey hired Robinson on October 23, 1945, to play for the Montreal Royals of . Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, a sleepy Southern town near the Florida border. [236], In his first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962,[73] Robinson encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications, rather than his cultural impact on the game. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded. Here's how you can watch him play", "Jackie Robinson: Gone but not forgotten", "The No. [109] On February 10, 1946, Robinson and Isum were married by their old friend, the Rev. That year, on the television show Youth Wants to Know, Robinson challenged the Yankees' general manager, George Weiss, on the racial record of his team, which had yet to sign a black player. Robinson Jr. eventually completed the treatment program at Daytop Village in Seymour, Connecticut, and became a counselor at the institution. [86], During the season, Robinson pursued potential major league interests. He identified himself as a political independent,[247][248] although he held conservative opinions on several issues, including the Vietnam War (he once wrote to Martin Luther King Jr. to defend the Johnson Administration's military policy). Robinson named Lee "Jeep" Handley, who played for the Phillies at the time, as the first opposing player to wish him well. O'Malley was quoted in the Montreal Standard as saying, "Jackie told me that he would be both delighted and honored to tackle this managerial post"although reports differed as to whether a position was ever formally offered. [18] Growing up in relative poverty in an otherwise affluent community, Robinson and his minority friends were excluded from many recreational opportunities. In a letter read during the ceremony, Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow, wrote: "I remember Montreal and that house very well and have always had warm feeling for that great city. [190], In 1953, Robinson had 109 runs, a .329 batting average, and 17 steals,[162] leading the Dodgers to another National League pennant (and another World Series loss to the Yankees, this time in six games). "[139], Robinson was also derided by opposing teams. Awards And Honors. [52][59][61] The experience led to a personal friendship between Robinson and Louis. [161] Robinson had a batting average of .296 and 22 stolen bases for the season. April 13, 2010. The Dodgers tried Robinson in the outfield and as a third baseman, both because of his diminishing abilities and because Gilliam was established at second base. [19] As a result, Robinson joined a neighborhood gang, but his friend Carl Anderson persuaded him to abandon it. Jackie Robinson died in 1972, a year after Jackie Jr. died. This forced a best-of-three playoff series against the crosstown rival New York Giants. [66][72], By the time of the court-martial in August 1944, the charges against Robinson had been reduced to two counts of insubordination during questioning. [37] Toward the end of his PJC tenure, Frank Robinson (to whom Robinson felt closest among his three brothers) was killed in a motorcycle accident. [119][120] In DeLand, a scheduled day game was postponed, ostensibly because of issues with the stadium's electrical lighting. This guy didn't just come to play. No.32 Is Likely To Be Hottest Debate", "Rare Jackie Robinson jersey sold for $2.05 million", Sporting News MLB Rookie of the Year Award, National League Most Valuable Player Award, National League season stolen base leaders, Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Orel Hershiser's scoreless innings streak, "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here", Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, National Football Foundation Gold Medal winners, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackie_Robinson&oldid=1142150607, Activists for African-American civil rights, African-American male track and field athletes, American expatriate baseball players in Canada, Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state), Baseball players from Pasadena, California, Basketball players from Pasadena, California, College men's basketball head coaches in the United States, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners, Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, National League Most Valuable Player Award winners, Pasadena City Lancers men's basketball players, Players of American football from Pasadena, California, UCLA Bruins men's track and field athletes, United States Army personnel of World War II, United States Army personnel who were court-martialed, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, October 10,1956,for theBrooklyn Dodgers, Antonio Todd in "Colors", a 2005 episode of the, Robert Hamilton in "Sundown", a 2020 episode of the, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:58. [211], 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. [76], After his discharge, Robinson briefly returned to his old football club, the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Before Jack and I moved to Montreal, we had just been through some very rough treatment in the racially biased South during spring training in Florida. His family were sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. "[93][95] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back. [270] Twenty-five years after Robinson's death, the Interboro Parkway was renamed the Jackie Robinson Parkway in his memory. [267][268] The experience with his son's drug addiction turned Robinson Sr. into an avid anti-drug crusader toward the end of his life. He influenced the culture of and contributed significantly to the civil rights movement. [82][83] The hectic travel schedule also placed a burden on his relationship with Isum, with whom he could now communicate only by letter. 42 as part of Jackie Robinson Day tribute", "MLB players to wear #42 Monday to honor Jackie Robinson Day", "Jackie Robinson Rotunda dedicated at Citi Field", "Jackie Robinson Museum opens in Manhattan", "Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation extends partnership with The Jackie Robinson Foundation through $800,000 grant for college scholarships", "Jackie Robinson statue unveiled at Dodger Stadium", "The 2010 Aflac National High School Player of The Year Nominees Announced", Baseball awards#U.S. He was the youngest of five children born to Mallie (McGriff) and Jerry Robinson, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. [49] He played football as a senior, but the 1940 Bruins won only one game. Sources point to various reasons for Robinson's departure from UCLA. Robinson thus became the first black player to openly play for a minor league team against a major league team since the de facto baseball color line had been implemented in the 1880s. In December 1956, the NAACP recognized him with the Spingarn Medal, which it awards annually for the highest achievement by an African-American. [43][44] They went undefeated with four ties at 604. [162], Robinson had what was an average year for him in 1952. [66][70], After Robinson's commander in the 761st, Paul L. Bates, refused to authorize the legal action,[71] Robinson was summarily transferred to the 758th Battalionwhere the commander quickly consented to charge Robinson with multiple offenses, including, among other charges, public drunkenness, even though Robinson did not drink. [208] He accumulated 197 stolen bases in total,[162] including 19 steals of home. "I do not care if half the league strikes. [142][143][144] The Woodward article made national headlines. Rachel and their three children, Jackie Jr., Sharon and David, provided Jackie with the emotional support and sense of purpose essential for bearing the pressure during the early years of baseball. [200], Robinson protested against the major leagues' ongoing lack of minority managers and central office personnel, and he turned down an invitation to appear in an old-timers' game at Yankee Stadium in 1969. [66], Although his former unit, the 761st Tank Battalion, became the first black tank unit to see combat in World War II, Robinson's court-martial proceedings prohibited him from being deployed overseas; thus, he never saw combat action. That year, he served as editor for Our Sports magazine, a periodical focusing on Negro sports issues; contributions to the magazine included an article on golf course segregation by Robinson's old friend Joe Louis. The sign spotted Sunday in Queens featured a picture of Robinson, Major League Baseball's first African American . [204] During his career, the Dodgers played in six World Series, and Robinson himself played in six All-Star Games. "[93][95] After obtaining a commitment from Robinson to "turn the other cheek" to racial antagonism, Rickey agreed to sign him to a contract for $600 a month, equal to $9,031 today. [128] Although he often faced hostility while on road trips (the Royals were forced to cancel a Southern exhibition tour, for example),[72] the Montreal fan base enthusiastically supported Robinson. [64] As it was a fledgling program, few students tried out for the basketball team, and Robinson even resorted to inserting himself into the lineup for exhibition games. [209] Robinson has been referred to by author David Falkner as "the father of modern base-stealing".[210]. MLB also adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", for the first time on April 15, 2004, on which every player on every team wears No. [313], Since 2004, the Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year has been presented the "Jackie Robinson Award". [23], In 1965, Robinson served as an analyst for ABC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts, the first black person to do so. Robinson died at age 85 at a hospital in Pasadena on March 12, 2000. "[153] In 1947 or 1948, Reese is said to have put his arm around Robinson in response to fans who shouted racial slurs at Robinson before a game in Boston or Cincinnati. 1990. [179] Rickey shortly thereafter became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. His mother, Mallie Robinson, single-handedly raised Jackie and her four other children. [275] Robinson's daughter, Sharon, became a midwife, educator, director of educational programming for MLB, and the author of two books about her father. [77] The job included coaching the school's basketball team for the 194445 season. With Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson played his initial major league season as a first baseman. Robinson's older brother was a silver medalist at the Olympics. Jackie Robinson Research Papers. "[107], Rickey's offer allowed Robinson to leave behind the Monarchs and their grueling bus rides, and he went home to Pasadena. [335] The only sport this did not affect was men's basketball, which had previously retired the number for Walt Hazzard (although Kevin Love was actually the last player in that sport to wear 42, with Hazzard's blessing). [3] When the Dodgers signed Robinson, it heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. [166], In the spring of 1949, Robinson turned to Hall of Famer George Sisler, working as an advisor to the Dodgers, for batting help. [291][292] On April 15, 1997, Robinson's jersey number, 42, was retired throughout Major League Baseball, the first time any jersey number had been retired throughout one of the four major American sports leagues. Jack Roosevelt (Jackie) Robinson Born 31 Jan 1919 in Cairo, Grady, Georgia, United States Ancestors Son of Jerry Robinson and Mallie (McGriff) Robinson Brother of Edgar Robinson, Frank Robinson, Matthew MacKenzie Robinson and Willa Mae (Robinson) Walker Husband of [private wife (1920s - unknown) ] [326] In 1978, Colonial Park in Harlem was renamed after Robinson. That September, he signed with Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals, a post-season barnstorming team in the California Winter League. [167] Robinson also noted that "Sisler showed me how to stop lunging, how to check my swing until the last fraction of a second". [165] In 1948, Wendell Smith's book, Jackie Robinson: My Own Story, was released. [19][20][21], In 1935, Robinson graduated from Washington Junior High School and enrolled at John Muir High School (Muir Tech). on May 7, 1938. [229], Robinson once told future Hall of Fame inductee Hank Aaron that "the game of baseball is great, but the greatest thing is what you do after your career is over. [157] Robinson also talked frequently with Larry Doby, who endured his own hardships since becoming the first black player in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, as the two spoke to one another via telephone throughout the season. NEW YORK (AP) New York City's Department of Transportation swung and missed with a road sign for the Jackie Robinson Parkway that spelled the baseball Hall of Famer's first name as "Jakie.". [164], Racial pressure on Robinson eased in 1948 when a number of other black players entered the major leagues. [90] He left the tryout humiliated,[87] and more than 14 years later, in July 1959, the Red Sox became the final major league team to integrate its roster. Louis. [93] For the performance Robinson earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the National League. [117][118] In Jacksonville, the stadium was padlocked shut without warning on game day, by order of the city's Parks and Public Property director. [312] The New York Yankees honor Robinson with a plaque in Monument Park. He finished the year with 99 runs scored, a .328 batting average, and 12 stolen bases. Karl Downs, President of Sam Huston College (now HustonTillotson University) in nearby Austin, Texas; in California, Downs had been Robinson's pastor at Scott United Methodist Church while Robinson attended PJC. 1. He believed that everything unpleasant that happened to him happened because of his blackness. In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams; he was the first professional athlete in any sport to be so honored. [288] In 1997, a $325,000 bronze sculpture (equal to $548,606 today) by artists Ralph Helmick, Stu Schecter, and John Outterbridge depicting oversized nine-foot busts of Robinson and his brother Mack was erected at Garfield Avenue, across from the main entrance of Pasadena City Hall; a granite footprint lists multiple donors to the commission project, which was organized by the Robinson Memorial Foundation and supported by members of the Robinson family. Born on January 31, 1919, in 1954, Robinson pursued potential major league season as result... To a personal friendship between Robinson and Isum were married by their friend. Robinson earned the Most Valuable player Award for the Montreal Royals of [ 165 ] in,! Career, the Los Angeles Bulldogs African american [ 52 ] [ 95 ] Rickey replied that he needed Negro! 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