Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, the youngest of five children. His father left the family when Jackie was an infant, and his mother, Mallie Robinson, moved the family to Pasadena, California, where Jackie grew up. He became an outstanding athlete, becoming the first student at UCLA to letter in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he was court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a military bus. He was acquitted of all charges.

In 1945, Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was looking for a Black player with the talent and courage to break baseball's color barrier. He chose Jackie Robinson, but warned him that he would need to have the strength not to fight back against the racism he would face. Robinson agreed. On April 15, 1947, Robinson stepped onto Ebbets Field, becoming the first Black player in Major League Baseball in the modern era. He endured death threats, hate mail, and vicious abuse from players and fans. Some of his own teammates initially refused to play with him. Through it all, Robinson let his talent speak. He won the Rookie of the Year award that season and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1949.

Robinson's courage in the face of hatred opened the door for Black athletes in professional sports and is considered one of the most important moments in civil rights history. He played for the Dodgers for 10 seasons, was named to six All-Star teams, and helped the team win the 1955 World Series. After retiring from baseball, he became a businessman and civil rights activist, joining protests and supporting the NAACP. Robinson died on October 24, 1972. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his number 42 across all teams, the first time any sport retired a number league-wide. Every April 15 is now Jackie Robinson Day, when all MLB players wear number 42 in his honor.