Sports Stars: By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks on 07.29.16 Word Count 1,281

Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers poses at in the Brooklyn borough of City, April 11, 1947. Photo: John Rooney/

Synopsis: Born , 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson became the first black athlete to play Major League in the 20th century. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and throughout his decade-long career, Robinson distinguished himself as a talented player and a vocal civil rights activist. In 1955, he helped the Dodgers win the . He retired in 1957 with a career batting average of .311. Robinson died in in 1972.

Early Life

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five children, Robinson was raised in relative poverty by a mother. He attended and Pasadena Junior College, where he was an excellent athlete and played four sports: football, , track and baseball. He was named the region's Most Valuable Player in baseball in 1938.

Robinson's older brother, Matthew Robinson, inspired Robinson to pursue his talent and love for athletics. Matthew won a silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind —at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Robinson continued his education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he became the university's first student to win varsity letters in four sports. In 1941, despite his athletic success, Robinson was forced to leave UCLA just shy of graduation due to financial hardship. He moved to , Hawaii, where he played football for the semi- professional Honolulu Bears. His season with the Bears was cut short when the entered into World War II.

From 1942 to 1944, Robinson served as a second lieutenant in the , however, he never saw combat. During boot camp at , Texas, Robinson was arrested and court-martialed in 1944 for refusing to give up his seat and move to the back of a segregated bus. Robinson's excellent reputation, combined with the efforts of friends, the NAACP and various black newspapers, shed public light on the injustice, and he was ultimately acquitted of the charges and received an honorable discharge. His courage and moral objection to segregation were precursors to the impact Robinson would have in .

Breaking The Color Barrier

After his discharge from the Army in 1944, Robinson began to play baseball professionally. At the time, the sport was segregated, and African-Americans and whites played in separate leagues. Robinson began playing in the Negro Leagues, but he was soon chosen by , president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate Major League Baseball. He joined the all-white Royals, a for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946. Robinson later moved to Florida to begin with the Royals.

Rickey knew there would be difficult times ahead for the young athlete, and so he made Robinson promise to not fight back when confronted with racism. Rickey also personally tested Robinson's reactions to the racial slurs and insults he knew the player would endure. From the beginning of his career with the Dodgers, Robinson's will was tested. Even some of his new teammates objected to having an African-American on their team. People in the crowds sometimes jeered Robinson, and he and his family received threats.

Despite the racial abuse, particularly at away games, Robinson had an outstanding start with the Royals, leading the with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage. His successful year led to his promotion to join the Dodgers. Robinson played his first game at Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on , 1947, making history as the first black athlete to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century.

The harassment continued, however, most notably by the and their , . During one infamous game, Chapman and his team shouted derogatory terms at Robinson from their . Many players on opposing teams threatened not to play against the Dodgers. Even his own teammates threatened to sit out. But Dodgers manager informed them that he would sooner trade them than Robinson. His loyalty to the player set the tone for the rest of Robinson's career with the team.

Baseball Hero

Others defended Robinson's right to play in the major leagues, including League President , Baseball Commissioner , Jewish baseball star and Dodgers and team captain . In one incident, while fans harassed Robinson from the stands, Reese walked over and put his arm around his teammate, a gesture that has become legendary in baseball history.

Robinson succeeded in putting the prejudice and racial strife aside, and showed everyone what a talented player he was. In his first year, he 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers win the pennant. That year, Robinson led the National League in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of the Year. He continued to wow fans and critics alike with impressive feats, such as an outstanding .342 batting average during the 1949 season. He led in stolen bases that year and earned the National League's Most Valuable Player Award.

Robinson soon became a hero of the sport, even among former critics, and was the subject of the popular song, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" An exceptional base runner, Robinson stole home 19 times in his career, setting a league record. He also became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history, and his success in the major leagues opened the door for other African-American players, such as , and .

In 1950, Robinson starred in The Jackie Robinson Story, a biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green and co-starring as Robinson's wife.

A Voice For African-American Athletes

Robinson also became a vocal champion for African-American athletes, civil rights, and other social and political causes. In , he testified about discrimination before the House Un-American Activities Committee. In 1952, he publicly called out the Yankees as a racist organization for not having broken the color barrier five years after he began playing with the Dodgers.

In his decade-long career with the Dodgers, Robinson and his team won the National League pennant several times. Finally, in 1955, he helped them achieve the ultimate victory: the World Series. After failing before in four other series match-ups, the Dodgers beat the . He helped the team win one more National League pennant the following season, and was then traded to the New York Giants. Robinson retired shortly after the trade, on January 5, 1957, with an impressive career batting average of .311.

Causes And Legacy

After baseball, Robinson became active in business and continued his work as an activist for social change. He worked as an executive for the Chock Full O' Nuts coffee company and restaurant chain, and helped establish the African-American-owned and -controlled Freedom Bank. He served on the board of the NAACP until 1967 and was the first African- American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1972, the Dodgers retired his uniform of 42.

In his later years, Robinson continued to lobby for greater integration in sports. He died from heart problems and diabetes complications on October 24, 1972, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was survived by his wife, Rachel Isum Robinson, and two of their three children. After his death, his wife established the Jackie Robinson Foundation, dedicated to honoring his life and work. The foundation helps young people in need by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.

Robinson’s life was the subject of the acclaimed 2013 film 42, which starred as Jackie Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. In 2016, filmmaker premiered a documentary about the baseball legend on PBS. Quiz

1 Which of the following selections from the article BEST shows that Jackie Robinson's success alone did not end segregation in Major League Baseball?

(A) From the beginning of his career with the Dodgers, Robinson's will was tested. Even some of his new teammates objected to having an African- American on their team.

(B) Robinson played his first game at Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, making history as the first black athlete to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century.

(C) He also became the highest-paid athlete in Dodgers history, and his success in the major leagues opened the door for other African-American players, such as Satchel Paige, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

(D) In 1952, he publicly called out the Yankees as a racist organization for not having broken the color barrier five years after he began playing with the Dodgers.

2 Which of the following aspects of the article is NOT thoroughly discussed?

(A) Robinson’s activism against segregation in sports

(B) Robinson’s record-breaking career with the Dodgers

(C) Robinson’s relationship with his wife and children

(D) Robinson’s persistence in the face of overt racism

3 Which of the following options BEST describes the structure of the article?

(A) a summary of major events in Robinson’s life and career

(B) a profile of Robinson’s beliefs and internal struggles

(C) an exposé on the racism Robinson faced in the MLB

(D) an analysis of Robinson’s outstanding athleticism

4 What purpose is BEST served by including examples of Robinson’s work with the NAACP and the African-American-owned Freedom Bank?

(A) to suggest that Robinson’s work was motivated by financial goals

(B) to emphasize the fact that Robinson had multiple talents

(C) to list the many hobbies Robinson enjoyed when he retired from baseball

(D) to explain that Robinson's activism continued after his baseball career ended