Jack Roosevelt Robinson
Born: January 31, 1919, Cairo,GA
Died: October 24, 1972, Stamford, CT
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was the son of sharecroppers. He attended John Muir High School in Pasadena, California, and Pasadena Junior College. In 1939, Robinson transferred from Pasadena Junior College to the University of California at Los Angeles on an athletic scholarship and became UCLA’s first student to earn varsity letters in four sports: football, track, basketball, and baseball. Unfortunately, financial hardship would lead to Robinson having to leave UCLA before he earned his degree. Athleticism ran in the Robinson family, and Jackie’s older brother, Matthew, was silver medalist at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Matthew finished just behind Jesse Owens in the 200-meter dash during the games, and he was an inspiration to his younger brother. Jackie Robinson served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944. While serving in the Army, he was arrested and court martialed for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus. He was acquitted and honorably discharged. In 1945, Robinson played with the Negro Leagues Kansas City Monarchs as a shortstop. In 1946, Robinson became part of the Montreal Royals, which was the Dodgers top farm team. His strong showing with the farm team earned him a spot with the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he made history with his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 15, 1947. As the first African-American to play in the major leagues, Robinson broke the color barrier, but racism remained prevalent. Robinson faced hostility and threats of physical violence on and off the field. Yet, he persisted, and played for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. At the end of his rookie season with the Dodgers, he was named National League Rookie of the Year. Then in 1949, he was named National League Most Valuable Player. After leaving baseball, Robison became a vice president at the Chock Full O' Nuts restaurant chain in 1957 and worked with the company until 1964. He was a civil rights advocate and member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) board of directors until 1967. Robinson helped found the minority-owned, Harlem, New York-based Freedom National Bank and also served as board chair of the bank. In 1997, the United States Postal Service honored Robinson with a commemorative postage stamp that featured his image. Robinson was the first MLB player to be honored with a postage stamp. Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Each season, on April 15, major league teams celebrate Jackie Robinson Day in honor and recognition of Robinson’s major league debut. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut, the Number 42 was universally retired in the major leagues on April 15, 1997.
Sources: The Society for American Baseball Research, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, National Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball, Encyclopedia Britannica, National Public Radio, Library of Congress, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation were the primary research sources for the biographical information contained in this exhibition label.
