April 15, 2010 will mark the 63rd anniversary of the day that Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers. By doing so, he became the first African-American to play on a major league team during the modern era. Robinson is recognized not only as a great baseball player, but also as an American hero who forever changed the country. In honor of his uniform number, here are 42 facts about one of greatest gentlemen to ever set foot on a baseball diamond.
Jackie Robinson's Birth and Youth
1. Jack "Jackie" Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919.
2. His middle name was an homage to President Teddy Roosevelt, who had died just 25 days before Robinson's birth.
3. Robinson was the youngest of five children, with three brothers and one sister.
4. When Robinson was a year old, his family moved to Pasadena, California.
Robinson's High School, College and the Military
5. Robinson attended John Muir High School in Pasadena, where he earned varsity letters in baseball, football, track & field and basketball.
6. Robinson was also a standout tennis player who won the Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament in 1936.
7. Robinson attended the University of California at Los Angeles.
8. While at UCLA, he once again earned varsity letters in baseball, football, basketball and track and field.
9. Surprisingly, baseball was his worst sport. He hit .097 in his only season with the team.
10. Robinson met his future wife, Rachel, at UCLA.
11. Robinson was drafted into the army in 1942.
12. He entered Officers' Candidate School that year and became a lieutenant colonel in 1943.
13. While he was in the army, Robinson developed a close friendship with heavyweight champion Joe Louis.
The Negro Leagues
14. Robinson signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues in 1945 for $400.
15. In 47 games with the Monarchs, he hit .387 with 13 stolen bases.
16. Robinson first tried out for the majors later that year with the Boston Red Sox.
17. He didn't sign with the team.
Jackie Robinson, Branch Rickey and the Minor Leagues
18. Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed Robinson to a minor league contract in August, 1945.
19. Jackie played one season with the Dodgers' AAA affiliate, the Montreal Royals, in 1946.
20. He led the league in hitting with a .349 average.
21. He also won the International League MVP that season.
Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier
22. Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
23. He was the first African-American to play in a major league since Moses Fleetwood Walker played in the old American Association in 1887.
24. Jackie went hitless in his debut.
25. African-Americans made up more than half the crowd of 27,000.
26. In his first season, Robinson hit .297 with 125 runs scored.
27. He also led the National League with 29 steals.
28. Robinson was named the first Rookie of the Year in 1947.
29. He also led the Dodgers to a National League pennant that year.
30. He hit .259 in his first World Series, which the Dodgers lost to the Yankees.
Robinson's Hall of Fame Career
31. Robinson played 9 mores season with the Dodgers.
32. His best year came in 1949, when he hit .342 with 16 homers, 124 RBI and 122 runs scored.
33. That season, he became the first black player to win the Most Valuable Player award.
34. During his 10-year career, the Dodgers won six National League pennants.
35. The team also won its only World Series in Brooklyn in 1955.
36. After the 1956 season, the Dodgers traded him to the Giants, who were moving to San Francisco.
37. Rather than switch teams, Robinson retired.
38. He finished his career with a .311 batting average.
39. Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
40. He died on October 24, 1972.
41. On April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of the day Robinson broke the color line, Commissioner Bud Selig retired his number 42 from the sport. Only those players who wore 42 as of that day would be allowed to continue wearing the number under a special grandfather clause.
42. Thirteen years later, only one of the grandfathered players is still active, and will therefore be the last man to ever wear the hallowed number. That player is Mariano Rivera.
James Lincoln Ray - Real Name: James Lincoln Ray Jim has been the Feature Baseball Writer for Suite101 since March, 2007, where he has written more then ...
