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April 15 : Jackie Robinson breaks colour 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 colour barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more
than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15, 1997, Robinson's
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 50,000 fans at New York City's Shea Stadium.
Robinson's 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 honourably 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 club's 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
League's Rookie of the Year. In 1949, the right-hander was named the
National League's 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.
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 colour barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more
than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15, 1997, Robinson's
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 50,000 fans at New York City's Shea Stadium.
Robinson's 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 honourably 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 club's 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
League's Rookie of the Year. In 1949, the right-hander was named the
National League's 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.
