Jackie Robinson breaks color barrier
On this day in 1947 Jackie Robinson age 28 becomes the first African-American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers.Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years.Exactly 50 years later on April 15 1997 Robinsons groundbreaking career was honored and his uniform number 42 was retired from Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bud Selig in a ceremony attended by over 50000 fans at New York Citys Shea Stadium.
Robinsons was the first-ever number retired by all teams in the league.Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born January 31 1919 in Cairo Georgia to a family of sharecroppers.Growing up he excelled at sports and attended the University of California at Los Angeles where he was the first athlete to letter in four varsity sports baseball basketball football and track.After financial difficulties forced Robinson to drop out of UCLA he joined the army in 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After protesting instances of racial discrimination during his military service Robinson was court-martialed in 1944.Ultimately though he was honorably discharged.After the army Robinson played for a season in the Negro American League.In 1945 Branch Rickey general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Robinson who was known for his integrity and intelligence as well as his talent to join one of the clubs farm teams.
In 1947 Robinson was called up to the Majors and soon became a star infielder and outfielder for the Dodgers as well as the National Leagues Rookie of the Year.In 1949 the right-hander was named the National Leagues Most Valuable Player and league batting champ.Robinson played on the National League All-Star team from 1949 through 1954 and led the Dodgers to six National League pennants and one World Series in 1955.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 his first year of eligibility.Despite his talent and success as a player Robinson faced tremendous racial discrimination throughout his career from baseball fans and some fellow players.Additionally Jim Crow laws prevented Robinson from using the same hotels and restaurants as his teammates while playing in the South.After retiring from baseball in 1957 Robinson became a businessman and civil rights activist.He died October 24 1972 at age 53 in Stamford Connecticut.
