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Jackie Robinson Bio+Facts
Biography
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. His mother, Mallie Robinson, single-handedly raised Jackie and her four other children. They were the only black family on their block, and the prejudice they encountered only strengthened their bond. From this humble beginning would grow the first baseball player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier that segregated the sport for more than 50 years.
Growing up in a large, single-parent family, Jackie excelled early at all sports and learned to make his own way in life. At UCLA, Jackie became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college, and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. After two years in the army, he had progressed to second lieutenant. Jackie's army career was cut short when he was court-martialed in relation to his objections with incidents of racial discrimination. In the end, Jackie left the Army with an honorable discharge.
In 1945, Jackie played one season in the Negro Baseball League, traveling all over the Midwest with the Kansas City Monarchs. But greater challenges and achievements were in store for him. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey approached Jackie about joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889, when baseball became segregated. When Jackie first donned a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, he pioneered the integration of professional athletics in America. By breaking the color barrier in baseball, the nation's preeminent sport, he courageously challenged the deeply rooted custom of racial segregation in both the North and the South.
At the end of Robinson's rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 homers, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average. In 1949, he was selected as the NL's Most Valuable player of the Year and also won the batting title with a .342 average that same year. As a result of his great success, Jackie was eventually inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Jackie married Rachel Isum, a nursing student he met at UCLA, in 1946. As an African-American baseball player, Jackie was on display for the whole country to judge. 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.
Stats
Batting Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP 1947 28 BRO NL 151 590 125 175 31 5 12 48 29 74 36 .297 .383 .427 252 28 9 5 1948 29 BRO NL 147 574 108 170 38 8 12 85 22 57 37 .296 .367 .453 260 8 7 7 1949 30 BRO NL 156 593 122 203 38 12 16 124 37 86 27 .342 .432 .528 313 17 8 22 1950 31 BRO NL 144 518 99 170 39 4 14 81 12 80 24 .328 .423 .500 259 10 5 11 1951 32 BRO NL 153 548 106 185 33 7 19 88 25 8 79 27 .338 .429 .527 289 6 9 10 1952 33 BRO NL 149 510 104 157 17 3 19 75 24 7 106 40 .308 .440 .465 237 6 14 16 1953 34 BRO NL 136 484 109 159 34 7 12 95 17 4 74 30 .329 .425 .502 243 9 7 12 1954 35 BRO NL 124 386 62 120 22 4 15 59 7 3 63 20 .311 .413 .505 195 5 4 7 13 1955 36 BRO NL 105 317 51 81 6 2 8 36 12 3 61 18 .256 .378 .363 115 6 3 5 3 8 1956 37 BRO NL 117 357 61 98 15 2 10 43 12 5 60 32 .275 .382 .412 147 9 2 2 3 9 10 Seasons 1382 4877 947 1518 273 54 137 734 197 30 740 291 .311 .409 .474 2310 104 9 7 72 113 162 Game Avg 572 111 178 32 6 16 86 23 4 87 34 .311 .409 .474 271 12 1 1 8 13 Career High 156 593 125 203 39 12 19 124 37 8 106 40 .342 .440 .528 313 28 4 5 14 22
Special Batting Year Ag Tm Lg PA Outs RC BA *lgBA OBP *lgOBP SLG *lgSLG OPS *lgOPS *OPS+ SB% 1947 28 BRO NL 701 448 94 .297 .279 .383 .355 .427 .413 .810 .768 111 1948 29 BRO NL 646 419 93 .296 .272 .367 .347 .453 .403 .820 .750 118 1949 30 BRO NL 704 429 133 .342 .275 .432 .349 .528 .412 .960 .761 152 1950 31 BRO NL 613 369 108 .328 .272 .423 .349 .500 .422 .923 .771 140 1951 32 BRO NL 642 387 121 .338 .270 .429 .344 .527 .409 .957 .753 154 75% 1952 33 BRO NL 636 382 101 .308 .263 .440 .336 .465 .391 .904 .727 150 77% 1953 34 BRO NL 574 350 101 .329 .276 .425 .348 .502 .431 .927 .779 139 81% 1954 35 BRO NL 465 291 79 .311 .278 .413 .349 .505 .429 .918. .779 136 70% 1955 36 BRO NL 390 256 43 .256 .269 .378 .340 .363 .426 .740 .766 96 80% 1956 37 BRO NL 431 284 55 .275 .273 .382 .341 .412 .431 .793 .772 107 70% 10 Seasons 5802 3615 928 .311 .273 .409 .346 .474 .415 .883 .761 132 86%
- indicates the value is park adjusted
Postseason Batting Year Round Tm Opp W/L G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB 1947 WS BRO NYY L 7 27 3 7 2 0 0 3 2 4 .259 .310 .333 2 1949 WS BRO NYY L 5 16 2 3 1 0 0 2 4 2 .187 .350 .250 0 1952 WS BRO NYY L 7 23 4 4 0 0 1 2 7 5 .174 .367 .304 2 1953 WS BRO NYY L 6 25 3 8 2 0 0 2 1 0 .320 .346 .400 1 1955 WS BRO NYY W 6 22 5 4 1 1 0 1 2 1 .182 .250 .318 1 1956 WS BRO NYY L 7 24 5 6 1 0 1 2 5 2 .250 .379 .417 0 6 World Series 1-5 38 137 22 32 7 1 2 12 21 14 .234 .335 .343 6
Achievements
In 1947, Jackie Robinson engineered the integration of professional sports in America by breaking the color barrier in baseball. He overcame numerous obstacles in his 10 year career to become one of baseball's most exciting and dazzling players. His enormous talent helped lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to six pennants and one World Series Championship. The ultimate honor was bestowed when Jackie was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility.
However, Jackie Robinson's contributions go far beyond the baseball diamond. Upon retirement from baseball, Jackie fought tirelessly to improve the quality of life not only for African-Americans, but for society as a whole. By becoming the first black vice president of a major American corporation, Robinson continued to open doors for African Americans.
Education
Attended Washington Junior High School in 1935. Achieved four-letterman status at John Muir Technical High School. Enrolled in Pasadena Junior College 1938-1939. Led Pasadena to the Junior College Championship in 1938. Named Most Valuable Junior College Player in Southern California in 1938. Held the National Junior College broad jump record. Transferred to UCLA 1939-1940. Won the NCAA broad jump title at 25' 6 1/2". Became UCLA's first four-letter man. Served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945, during which he became second Lieutenant. Inducted into UCLA's Hall of Fame on June 10, 1984.
Career
Broke the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947 by becoming the first African-American player. Named National League Rookie of the Year in 1947. Led the National League in stolen bases in 1947 and 1949. Led second basemen in double plays 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952. Selected as the National League MVP in 1949 Won the 1949 batting title with a .342. National League All-Star Team, 1949-1954. Had a career batting average of .311 with the Dodgers, .333 in All-Star games Led the Dodgers to six World Series and one World Series Championship in a 10-year span.
Beyond Baseball
Starred in "The Jackie Robinson Story" in 1950. Opened a men's apparel store on 125th street in Harlem from 1952-1958. Signed a contract with WNBC and WNBT to serve as Director of Community Activities in 1952. Became Vice President of Chock Full O'Nuts in 1957. Served in numerous campaigns and on the board of directors for the NAACP from 1957-1967. Established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company in 1970 to build housing for families with low incomes. Author of autobiography "I Never Had It Made."
Awards
Honors Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility NAACP's prestigious Springarn Medal Elected to throw out the first ball at the 1972 World Series Honorary degree from the University of Maryland Honorary degree from Franklin Pierce College Honorary degree from Scared Heart University Honorary degree from Pace University Honorary degree from the Howard University Citation from the National Conference of Christians and Jews Two Friends Award of the National Urban League
Appearances on Leaderboards and All-Star Games Awards are Year-League-Award, Stats are Year-Value-Rank
All-Star Awards Top 10 MVP Batting Average 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1947-ML-ROY 1949-NL-MVP 1947-NL-5 1949-NL-1 1951-NL-6 1952-NL-7 1948-.296-10 1949-.342-1 1950-.328-2 1951-.338-3 1952-.308-4 1953-.329-8 Car-.311-94 On-Base % Slugging % OPS Games 1949-.432-2 1950-.423-3 1951-.429-3 1952-.440-1 1953-.425-2 1954-**.413-8 Car-.409-40 1949-.528-3 1951-.527-6 1952-.465-10 1949-.960-3 1950-.923-7 1951-.957-4 1952-.904-2 1953-.927-10 1954-**.918-8 Car-.883-81 1947-151-6 1948-147-9 1949-156-2 1951-153-8 At Bats Runs Hits Total Bases 1947-590-5 1948-574-6 1949-593-10 1947-125-2 1948-108-4 1949-122-3 1950-99-9 1951-106-5 1952-104-3 1953-109-8 1947-175-9 1948-170-8 1949-203-2 1950-170-9 1951-185-5 1947-252-10 1948-260-9 1949-313-5 1951-289-8 Doubles Triples RBI Base on Balls 1947-31-6 1948-38-4 1949-38-3 1950-39-3 1951-33-3 1953-34-8 1948-8-8 1949-12-3 1951-7-10 1949-124-2
1949-86-7
1950-80-9 1951-79-10 1952-106-3 Stolen Bases Adjusted OPS+ Extra-Base Hits Times on Base 1947-29-1 1948-22-4 1949-37-1 1950-12-7 1951-25-3 1952-24-3 1953-17-4 1955-12-6 1956-12-6 1949-152-3 1950-140-8 1951-154-4 1952-150-2 1953-139-9 1948-58-6 1949-66-5 1951-59-8 1947-258-5 1948-234-9 1949-297-2 1950-255-6 1951-273-3 1952-277-2 1953-240-9 Hit By Pitch Sac. Hits Power/Spd Num. 1947-9-2 1948-7-1 1949-8-2 1950-5-7 1951-9-3 1952-14-2 1953-7-3 1954-7-2 1947-28-1 1949-17-1 1950-10-6 1953-9-8 1947-17.0-1 1948-15.5-1 1949-22.3-1 1950-12.9-5 1951-21.6-3 1952-21.2-1 1953-14.1-3 1954-9.5-10 1956-10.9-7
Quotes
By Jackie Robinson
"Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead."
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
"How you played in yesterday's game is all that counts."
"I guess you'd call me an independent since I've never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label."
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being."
"It kills me to lose. If I'm a troublemaker, and I don't think that my temper makes me one, then it's because I can't stand losing. That's the way I am about winning, all I ever wanted to do was finish first."
"Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life."
"Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade."
"The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time."
"I way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it."
"There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."
"But if Mr. Rickey hadn't signed me, I wouldn't have played another year in the black league. It was too difficult. The travel was brutal. Financially, there was no reward. It took everything you make to live off."
"But as I write these words now I cannot stand and sing the National Anthem. I have learned that I remain a black in a white world."
"Above anything else, I hate to lose."
About Jackie Robinson
"He was the greatest competitor I have ever seen." -- Duke Snider, teammate
"There was never a man in the game who could put mind and muscle together quicker than Jackie Robinson." -- Branch Rickey, ex-General Manager Brooklyn Dodgers
"Jackie, we've got no army. There's virtually nobody on our side. No owner, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I'm afraid that many fans may be hostile. We'll be in a tough position. We can win only if we can convince the world that I am doing this because you're a great ballplayer, and a fine gentleman." -- Rickey
Fast Facts
Birth Name: Jack Roosevelt Robinson Also known as: Jackie Robinson Born: January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA Died: October 24, 1972 in Stamford, CT Married: Rachel Issum on February 10, 1946 Children: Jackie Jr. (died in 1971), Sharon and David Height: 5' 11" Weight: 204 lb. Batted: Right Threw: Right College Education: UCLA Professional Team: Brooklyn Dodgers Years Played: 1947-56 Debut: April 15, 1947 Stats on Jackie Robinson >>
Facts
In 1982, Jackie Robinson became the first Major League Baseball player to appear on a US postage stamp.
Jackie Robinson was 28 years old when he broke into the Major Leagues, yet he still won the unified Rookie of the Year Award.
Fifty years after he became the first modern black player, Major League baseball chose his number as the first one to ever retire for every team.
In 1949, Jackie Robinson led the National League in stolen bases and batting average, was named to his first All-Star Game, helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win the pennant by one game, and was named the years Most Valuable Player.
Jackie Robinson's older brother Mack finished second to Jesse Owens in the 100-meter race in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
An outstanding athlete, Jackie Robinson was the first ever four-sport letter winner at UCLA (football, track, basketball and baseball). His accomplishments outside of baseball included leading the Pacific Coast Conference (later the Pac-10) in scoring twice in basketball, becoming the NCAA champion in 1940 in the broad jump (25 feet, 6.5 inches), and achieving All-American status in football.
Shortly before his death, Jackie Robinson was selected to throw out the first pitch at the 1972 World Series, the 25th anniversary of his breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier