Let's Talk About #42 - Jackie Robinson
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Let's talk about Jackie Robinson… and his fascinating story, including his impressive stats and some fascinating details. Jackie, or his given name, ‘Jack Roosevelt Robinson’ was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Cairo is a small city in Grady County, Georgia located in lower Georgia, about 30 miles from Tallahassee, Florida. Jackie was raised by his mother and siblings after his father left the family when he was six months old. His mother moved the family to California looking for a better life for her family. It’s about 2500 miles from Georgia and back then it would have taken them around four days by train to get there.
Jackie was the youngest of five children and
they were all talented athletes. So Jackie had to work hard to keep
up with his brothers and sisters. Jackie loved many sports and was
good at them all. Later in college, he played several sports and
broke records in basketball, football, and track. He was the first to
earn a varsity letter in all sports at college. But it wasn't until
later at Pasadena Junior College that he focused on baseball. He
later transferred to UCLA and became the first African American to
play on the university's baseball team.
After college, Robinson enlisted in the army
and served as a second lieutenant during WWII. After his honorable
discharge in 1945, Robinson began playing baseball professionally in
the Negro Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. His talent on the
field did not go unnoticed, and in 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers owner
Branch Rickey signed Robinson to a contract. Robinson made history by
becoming the first African American to compete in the major leagues
in the modern era. He played first base and besides being an
excellent hitter he was good at stealing bases. His stolen bases
contributed a lot to the team making it to the world series.
But Robinson's major league debut on April
15, 1947, was met with opposition from many people who did not want
to see African Americans playing professional sports. Robinson faced
racial slurs, threats, and physical violence both on and off the
field. However, he persevered and became a trailblazer for countless
others who followed in his footsteps.
Despite adversity, Robinson had a remarkable baseball career. During his 10-year career, he played in six All-Star games, won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1949, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Robinson's stats were impressive. He had a career batting average of .311, hit 137 home runs, stole 197 bases, and scored 947 runs. He played an integral role in helping the Dodgers win six National League pennants and the 1955 World Series.
Off the field, Robinson was a vocal advocate
for civil rights and equality. He used his platform as a professional
athlete to speak out against discrimination and work to improve
conditions for African Americans in various areas of society.
Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972. Today he is buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. The inscription on his tombstone reads, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,” His legacy continues to inspire and empower people around the world.
The baseball jersey number #42 was retired in a ceremony at Shea Stadium in 1997 to mark the 50th anniversary of Robinson's first game with the Dodgers. The last player to wear the Number 42 regularly was Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, who retired at the end of the 2013 season.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate you reading my posts,
Tom Boleware
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