The J ackie Robinson Story

The Jackie Robinson Story

Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American

baseball player who became the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.

President Theodore Roosevelt, who died 25 days before Jackie was

born was the inspiration for his middle name.

Born: January 31, 1919 in Cairo GA,

He played 4 sports

Baseball Basketball Football Track

Wife: Rachel (Isum) RobinsonMarried: 1946 – 1972

Children:

Jackie Jr.

Sharon

David

Positions

Positions First Baseman

Second Baseman

Shortstop

Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from

the same college Harvard University

Jackie Robinson also served in World War II

In 1945, Jackie Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs. He

was paid $400 a month (about $5100 today) to play shortstop

and eventually was placed in the Negro League All-Star Game that

year.

Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese

Defending Jackie

Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese defended Jackie against violent and nasty racial slurs

during his rookie season. Reese famously put his arm around him

and said, “You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them,” as a response to

fans shouting racial slurs at Jackie.

In 1956 at the age of 37, Jackie Robinson retired from Major League Baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In 1962, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jackie was also the first African-American TV sports analyst.

On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired Jackie Robinson’s uniform number

Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack on October 24, 1972 in Stamford,

Connecticut, at the age 53.

April 15, 2004, became known as Jackie Robinson Day and all

uniformed players in Major League Baseball have to wear number 42

on their jerseys to honor Robinson’s memory to the sport.

Awards: Major League Baseball All-Century

Team

National League Most Valuable Player Award

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Most Valuable player