Jack (Jackie) Roosevelt Robinson  

http://www.umass.edu/pubaffs/jackie/citizend1.html

                                                                (1919-1972)

 

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In 1947 when Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers, both of them knew it would be a long, hard road ahead. However, neither of them could have imagined how important this simple act would be to the entire world.

 

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In the Beginning:

Jackie was born Jack Roosevelt Robinson January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He was born to Mallie and Jerry Robinson, the youngest of their five children. Jackie has three older brothers and one older sister. Jackie's parents were sharecroppers on a Gerorgia plantation, just north of the Florida border.

 

Shortly after Jackie was born his father, Jerry, left the family. The family was evicted from their home on the plantation shortly after Jerry left. So, in May of 1920, Mallie picks up her five youngens and heads west towards Pasadena, California.

 

The Robinsons did not have it easy in Pasadena. Mallie struggled to support her family, but despite her efforts, they remained poor. Nonetheless, Jackie left his mark on Pasadena by establishing himself as a star on the ball field.

 

 

The College Years:

Jackie attended Pasadena Junior College (now Pasadena City College) where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1939, Jackie enrolled at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles). While at UCLA, Jackie lettered in four sports... in one season. Jackie played and excelled in almost every sport possible. From swimming, to tennis, to track, to baseball, Jakie was a star.

 

Inbetween being a star athlete and studying for finals, Jackie had time to woo his future wife, Rachel Isum. Rachel and Jackie fell in love at UCLA and the college sweethearts were married in 1946.

 

 

 

Wearing Camouflage:  

During Jackie's junior year he left UCLA and joined the U.S. Army in 1941. Due to injury, he luckily never saw combat and was discharged from the army in 1944 with the rank of Frist Lieutenant.

 

Click Here for more information about World War II.

 

 

Pre Major League Era:

Jackie signed a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs, of Kansas City Missouri, to finally use his ball skills professionally. The Monarchs were part of the Negro American League. After playing shortstop for the Monarchs for a while, in 1945 Jackie was discovered by Branch Rickey. After continously scouting the Negro Leagues, Branch finally found the right person he believed to integrate baseball for the first time in over fifty years. Thinking that Jackie would be better broken in and accepted in Canada, Branch signs Jackie to the minor leagues playing with the Montreal Royals in 1946.

 

As Jackie won the hearts of the Canadian fans, his warm up was over. After one season with the Royals, Jackie was ready to be the first black player in major league baseball.

 

 

 

In the Big Leagues:

From 1947 to 1956 Jackie was a Dodger. Jackie and Branch took the historic plunge into racial discrimination when Jackie became the first black man ever to play in the major leagues as a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Despite the hardships, Jackie became a star. The fans absolutely loved him. He was named "Rookie of the Year" and was even featured on the cover of Time magazine with a proclaimed "Jackie Robinson Day" for the die hard fans in his honor. Jackie broke through the racial barriers and became one of America's most loved celebrities. 

 

While Jackie was a Dodger he mostly played the role of second baseman. Teaming up with shortstop Pee Wee Reese, they became an unstoppable double-play duo.  Jackie was so exciting to watch that the split screen was invented; Jackie was so captivating that the audience wanted to watch the pictcher and Jackie at the same time on their home televisions.

 

When Jackie stepped on the ball field he instantly made headlines. Not because of his race, but because of his incredible skill and showmanship.

 

 

 

The Hard Times:

As one would assume, being that first black player in the major leagues was NOT easy. Dealing with all the discrimination and hatred was very difficult for Jackie, a naturally agressive man who had always stood up for his rights. But, Jackie promised Branch that he would react to none of it. No matter what was said or thrown, Jackie did not bat an eye, he just went on like nothing happened. Due to Jackie's color, he was never allowed to stay in the same hotels or eat in the same restraunts as his teammates. He endured numerous balls thrown at his head and numerous calls against his favor. Jackie was praised and loved for his passive behavior. Branch had chosen the perfect man to intergrate his sport.

 

After ten  years with the Dodgers, it was time for Jackie to retire. However, Jackie's legacy would never be forgotten. Jackie Robinson began the integration movement that slowly began to take hold thoughout the nation in the upcoming years. Jackie will always be remembered as one of the most enteraining and skilled ball players of all time.

 

 

 

After the Dodgers:

After all the success and excitement on the ball field, Jackie setteled down. Jackie became the vice-president of a New York City restaruant chain (Chock Full O' Nuts). In 1950 the major motion The Jackie Robinson Story was produced and Jackie played the starring role (himself). From 1964 to 1968 Jackie was special assistant to New York Governor, Nelson Rockefeller for civil rights issues. To futher support the Civil Rights movements that he had already become involved in, Jackie led national campaings to raise money as well as travel around the nation speaking of the crimes of discrimination. Jackie was a huge supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the NAACP. Jackie played the author role in writing his autobiography I Never Had It Made published in 1972 and co-authored with Alfred Duckett.

 

On top of all these accomplishments, Jackie raised his three children along with his wife Rachel.

 

 

Click Here for information on other individuals who fought for peoples' rights.

 

 

Meet the Robinsons:

Jackie married his wife Rachel in 1946. Jackie and Rachel had three children; Jackie, Jr., Sharon, and David. Jackie Jr. died in a car crash due to a drug addiction aquired while serving in the Vietnam War. David founded a school in East Africa.

 

 

http://www.umass.edu/pubaffs/jackie/citizend1.html

 

 

 

Jackie's Continuing Legacy:

On October 24, 1972 Jackie died of a heart attack at age fifty-three. Jackie had been suffering from heart troubles and his health had been failing for quite sometime. But even after Jackie's death, his impact on the world was not forgotten. 

 

Following his death, Jackie became the subject of The First, a Broadway musical. Jackie's widow, Rachel founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973. In 1977 she began a college scholarship program in association with the Foundation that helped out minority teens. April 15, 2004 was the first aunual "Jackie Robinson Day" celebrated by the major league ball teams where tributes are made. 

 

In March 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Jackie the Congressional Gold Medal. Rachel accepted the medal for her husband during the Washington, D.C. ceremony. The Medal is the highest honor the U.S. Congress can award a civilian and is a great honor.

 

 

 

 

 Click Here for other Prominient historical "Firsts".

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Jackie was MVP (Most Valuable Player) in 1949.
• Jackie's brother, Mack won a silver medal in the 200-meter dash in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Mack was one of Jackie's inspirations to make successful athletic career.
• Jackie played in six world series:  1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956.

• Jackie's number is 42, and was retired on Jackie's 50th anniversary in 1997 by Bud Selig, Major League Baseball comissioner.
• Jackie scored sixteen home runs
• Jackie had 124 RBI's (Runs Batted In = if he hit the ball, somone scored.)
• Jackie stole 37 bases
• Jackie stole home 19 times
• Jackie had 86 walks
• And in his 1,382 games, Jackie's batting average was a .342 (which means he hit over 1 out of every 3 balls ever thrown at him, which is very, very good.)
• In 1962 Jackie became the first black man ever elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• April 15th is the official Jackie Robinson Day, and team memebers in the major leagues will wear Jackie's number, 42.
• Jackie is considered one of the top 100 base stealers of all time (see video below).
• Jackie is said to be one of the most entertaining players to watch of all time.

• Jackie played professional football for the Honolulu Bears in 1941, and incidentally left Hawaii two days before the Japanese boming of Pearl Harbor.

   

   

   

 

 

 

Review Worksheet:

Jackie Robinson Worksheet.doc 

 

 

 

 

Back to List of Prominent Individuals

 

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Sources:

 

 "Robinson, Jackie ." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopdedia. Funk & Wagnalls . 25 Mar 2008      

    <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=RO057400&loginpage=Login.asp&site+ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

York , Kyle. "Jackie Robinson (1919-1972)." The New Georgia Encyclobedia. 2004. University of Georgia Press. 25 Mar 2008

    <http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1969>.

 

"Weekly Sports Trivia Quiz _ Jackie Robinson and Hot Topics." The Monitor. 2007. The Monitor. 6 Apr 2008    

    <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=2W62W61126397106&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

Atkin, Ross. "The Enduring Legacy of Jackie Robinson." Christian Science Monitor. 1995. Christian Science Monitor. 6 Apr 2008

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=9503160800&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

Elderkin, Phil. "Jackie Robinson's Legacies." Christian Science Monitor 04 15 1997 6 Apr 2008

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=9704222175&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

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Page created by:  Katie W.

Avon High School, Avon, Indiana

Date created: 3-25-2008