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Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, who built-in Major League Baseball in 1947, was born to a sharecropping household in Cairo, Georgia, on this day in historical past, Jan. 31, 1919.
His struggle for racial equality and his exploits on the sector of play made him the primary athlete in North American sports activities to have his jersey (No. 42) retired by each workforce in his recreation.
Among many achievements off the diamond, Robinson was an unimaginable four-sport star at UCLA. He was extensively thought-about some of the thrilling faculty soccer gamers of his period. Plus, he served in the U.S. Army in World War II, the place he first stood up for racial equality.
“His mother, Mallie Robinson, singlehandedly 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,” says Jackie Robinson.com, the official web site of the late sports activities legend. “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.”
Robinson stepped on the sector for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, after excelling for the franchise’s Montreal farm workforce in 1946.
American baseball participant Jackie Robinson, No. 42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers, poses in this undated portrait, circa 1947-1956. (Photo file/MLB Photos through Getty Images)
“It was the most eagerly anticipated debut in the annals of the national pastime,” authors Robert Lipsyte and Pete Levine wrote in “Idols of the Game.”
“It represented both the dream and the fear of equal opportunity, and it would change forever the complexion of the game and the attitudes of Americans.”
“It was the most eagerly anticipated debut in the annals of the national pastime.” — Robert Lipsyte and Pete Levine in ‘Idols of the Game’
Robinson performed nicely sufficient that season to earn National League Rookie of the Year honors and win over followers nationwide.
His presence modified baseball, opening the floodgates for it to develop into the varied multinational sport it is in the present day.
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In addition to White, Black, Asian and Hispanic Americans, multiple quarter of Major League Baseball gamers lately had been overseas born — representing 21 completely different nations world wide.
In addition to altering the way forward for baseball, Robinson additionally modified the fortunes of a traditionally struggling Brooklyn franchise dubbed “Dem Bums.”
The Dodgers performed for many years in the shadows of crosstown rivals the New York Yankees in 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 in opposition to the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, on April 15, 1947. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
They shortly rose to their best interval of success with Robinson on the roster.
Brooklyn gained National League pennants in 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1953, although it misplaced the World Series every year.
Robinson and the Dodgers lastly broke via and beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series, the one championship for the group in greater than half a century of enjoying 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 accrued an unimaginable record of particular person and workforce honors: Rookie of the Year, National League MVP, National League batting champ, two-time stolen base chief, six-time All Star, and World Series champion.
“Robinson’s presence changed baseball, opening the floodgates for it to become the diverse multinational sport it is today.”
Before baseball, Robinson served the nation honorably in the U.S. Army in World War II.
He was drafted in 1942, commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1943 and assigned to the 761st “Black Panthers” tank battalion in Fort Hood, Texas, in keeping with the U.S. Department of Defense.
There, he made a public stand for equal therapy on a army bus.
“The driver ordered Robinson to move to the back of the bus, but Robinson refused. The driver called the military police, who took Robinson into custody. He was subsequently court-martialed, but he was acquitted,” writes the Department of Defense.
“After his acquittal, he was transferred to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, where he served as a coach for Army athletics until receiving an honorable discharge in November 1944.”
An 82-yard march in the ultimate 5 minutes of play earned the UCLA soccer workforce a 13-13 tie with Oregon State College in a wide-open battle staged earlier than 40,000 followers. Statistics confirmed the 2 groups performed on virtually a fair foundation with a slight benefit to UCLA. Photo reveals UCLA proper half Jackie Robinson (No. 28) being stopped after receiving an 8-yard go from teammate Kenny Washington. Oregon State’s proper deal with Walter Jelsma is proven at No. 56. (Getty Images)
Robinson attended UCLA earlier than he was referred to as up by Uncle Sam.
He stays the one participant in faculty historical past to letter in 4 sports activities: baseball, soccer, basketball, and observe and discipline.
Remembered in the present day for his exploits on the diamond, he was a much bigger star on the gridiron in faculty.
“Robinson became an All-American football player who set the UCLA record for yards per carry in a season at 12.2 yards per attempt on 42 carries in 1939,” studies the NCAA of his gridiron success.
“Jackie Robinson made my success possible.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“He led the country in punt return average in 1939 and 1940 … He made a critical goal-line tackle in front of more than 103,000 fans in a scoreless tie against eventual national champion Southern California in the Los Angeles rivals’ regular-season finale.”
In observe and discipline, Robinson “won the Pacific Coast Conference and NCAA titles in long jump with leaps of 25-0 and 24-10,” studies the NCAA.
“Had the 1940 and 1944 Olympics not been canceled due to World War II, Robinson likely could have competed.”
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His battle for equality as knowledgeable, nevertheless, was fought and gained on the baseball diamond.
Robinson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He obtained an unprecedented honor on April 15, 1997, the fiftieth anniversary of his first look for the Dodgers, when his quantity was retired by each Major League workforce.
Jackie Robinson, in army uniform, grew to become the primary African American to signal with a White skilled baseball workforce. He signed a contract with the minor league membership in Montreal, a farm workforce for the Brooklyn Dodgers. (Getty Images)
The uncommon recognition has been repeated solely twice since in North American sports activities.
Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99 was retired by each National Hockey League workforce in 2000; the National Basketball Association introduced final yr that Bill Russell’s No. 6 could be retired by each workforce in its league.
“Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.”
Robinson skilled sick well being after his enjoying profession.
He was simply 53 years previous when he suffered a coronary heart assault and died in 1972.
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,” Robinson mentioned in a extensively famous quote.
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In that respect, few excelled higher than the baseball nice.
“Jackie Robinson made my success possible,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. later mentioned.
“Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.”
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