Jackie Robinson breaks major league color barrier
On April 15 1947 Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American in the major leagues when he plays his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers.Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born into a family of sharecroppers on January 31 1919 in Cairo Georgia.He attended UCLA where he became the first athlete to letter in four varsity sports baseball basketball football and track.He served in the U.S.
Army from 1942 to 1944 and was honorably discharged after facing insubordination charges for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus.After leaving the military Robinson played shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League.In 1945 he was recruited by Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey who was determined to end the unwritten segregation rule in the majors.In 1946 Robinson joined the Dodgers farm team the Montreal Royals and went on to lead the league in batting.
On April 15 1947 28-year-old Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut with the Dodgers against the Boston Braves in front of more than 25000 spectators at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn New York.Robinson played first base and went zero for three at the plate.During his first season in the majors Robinson encountered racism from opposing teams and fans as well as some of his own teammates.However the abuse didnt affect his performance on the baseball field.
Robinson played in 151 games hit .297 stole more bases than anyone else in the National League and was awarded the first-ever Rookie of the Year title.In 1949 Robinson who had switched to playing second base was named the National Leagues Most Valuable Player.The next year he became the Dodgers highest paid player earning a salary of 35000.
In 1955 Robinson helped the Dodgers defeat the New York Yankees to win the World Series.He retired from baseball after playing his last game on October 10 1956 with a career batting average of .311 1518 hits and 137 home runs.After leaving baseball Robinson worked as a business executive and continued his involvement in civil rights causes.On October 24 1972 he died at age 53 from heart problems and complications related to diabetes.
Robinson became the first African-American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 his first year of eligibility.In 1997 on the 50th anniversary of his historic first game in the majors Robinsons uniform number42was retired by Major League Baseball.
