Overview
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to break the baseball color line in Major League Baseball. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin argues that Robinson's ability to desegregate the Major League Baseball was a "monumental step in the civil-rights revolution in America...[His] accomplishments allowed black and white Americans to be more respectful and open to one another and more appreciative of everyone's abilities."
Achievements

• First African-American to play in Major League Baseball, breaking the baseball color line.
• Recipient of the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award in 1947.
• Awarded the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949.
• Selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954.
• Contributed to the Brooklyn Dodgers' 1955 World Championship.
• Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
• First athlete in any sport to have his number universally retired in 1997.
• April 15, 2004 was named "Jackie Robinson Day" in which all players wear #42.
• First African-American sports analyst.
• First African-American vice president of a major American corporation.
• Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal for his work as an athlete and civil rights activist.

Early Life

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Ga. His parents were sharecroppers and Robinson was the youngest of five children.

A year after Robinson's birth, his father left the family.

As a result, Robinson's mother, Mallie Robinson decided to move the family to Pasadena, Ca as part of the great migration.

Burgeoning Athlete

Robinson began high school in 1935 at John Muir High School. His older brother, Mack, encouraged Robinson to participate in varsity sports. As a result, Robinson played four varsity sports as a high school student, serving as quarterback on the football team, shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, a guard on the basketball team and track/field squad. In addition to participating in varsity sports, Robinson was a member of the tennis team. By his second year in high school, Robinson had won the junior singles championship at the Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament and earned a spot on the Pomona annual baseball tournament all-star team. In 1937, the Pasadena Star-News reported that "for two years [Robinson] has been the outstanding athlete at Muir, starring in football, basketball, track, baseball and tennis."

Following his graduation from high school, Robinson attended Pasadena Junior College. Robinson continue to hone his athletic abilities by becoming a member of the basketball, football, baseball and track teams. In addition to his athletic prowess, Robinson was active in the college community, serving as a member of the Lancer, a student-run organization that served as a watchdog for school activities. Robinson was also named to Pasadena Junior College's Order of the Mast and Dagger for his service to the school community, citizenship and scholastic achievements.

In 1939, Robinson transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). While a student at UCLA, Robinson became the school's first athlete to become lettered in four varsity sports--baseball, basketball, football and track.

Right before graduating from UCLA, Robinson left college and accepted a position as the assistant athletic director with the National Youth Administration (NYA). Soon after, Robinson decided to play football for the semi-professional Honolulu Bears. By December of 1941, Robinson was a running back for the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Football League.

World War II

Robinson's career as an athlete was cut short when he was drafted into the army in 1942. Assigned to a segregated unit in Fort Riley, Kan., Robinson was accepted into the Officer Candidate School (OCS). Following completion of OCS, Robinson was appointed as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1943. Soon after, Robinson joined the 761 Black Panthers Tank Battalion in Fort Hood, Texas. Robinson's career in the military was shortened when he was court martialed after an incident concerning racial discrimination. However, Robinson received an honorable discharge.

Negro Baseball League

In 1945, the Kansas City Monarchs offered Robinson the opportunity to play for their team. For a contract of $400 per month, Robinson became a baseball player. In his first year as a player, Robinson was part of the 1945 Negro League All-Star Game. As a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, Robinson played 47 games as a shortstop, registered 13 stolen bases and hit .387 with five home runs.

Major League Baseball teams expressed interest in Robinson during his tenure with the Kansas City Monarchs. Branch Rickey, the club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Robinson on August 28, 1945. Later that year, Robinson officially signed his contract to play with Rickey's Internatioanl League, the Montreal Royals.

The Minor Leagues

Robinson's decision to play for the Montreal Royals made him the first African-American player in the Internal League since the 1880s. In 1946, Robinson traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla. to train with the Royals. However, his presence was not met without racial strife. Robinson was not allowed to stay in the same hotel as his teammates. Communities throughout Florida refused to allow the team to train using their facilities is Robinson and Johnny Wright, another African-American player were present. In the town of Sanford, police officials pressured Royals management to stop training Robinson and Wright in local facilities or they would cancel games. And in Jacksonsville, the baseball stadium was locked on game day by city officials.

However, Rickey continued to lobby public officials throughout Florida and finally, the Royals were able to host a game with Robinson in Daytona Beach. The game was against the team's parent league, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bu the end of the season, Robinson was named the league's Most Valuable Player.

Brooklyn Dodger

On April 15, 1947, Robinson made history. Before a crowd of more than 25,000 people, Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field. During the game, Robinson scored a run in the Dodgers' 5-3 victory.

Robinson's membership to the Brooklyn Dodgers was met with mixed reception from the public, players on the team, and other baseball teams as well. However, Dodger manager Leo Durocher told the team, ""I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f*ckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded." When the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to strike if Robinson played, the National League officials warned players that they could be suspended for participating in a strike.

Robinson completed the 1947 season by playing 151 games for the Dodgers. His batting average was .297, he scored 125 runs, 12 homeruns. As a result of Robinson's performance, he earned the Rookie of the Year award.

For the next nine years, Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, retiring in 1956.