Biography:
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American Major League baseball second baseman. Robinson was born on January 31st, 1919 in a city called Cairo, Georgia. He had four siblings, three brothers and one sister, he was the youngest. When he was younger he was living in poverty and was not able to play in any sports, although he was a superb baseball player. Robinson graduated from Washington Junior High School and went on to study at John Muir High School. Despite living in poverty and not being able to play sports as a child, Robinson played many varsity sports in high school. He went to college at Pasadena Junior College and continued on with sports there. He then went to school at UCLA and was the first student to ever receive four varsity letters in sports. Which made him a real good candidate for any scouts for all the major sports. Robinson also served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant during World War 2. A few years after his army career, he started his first game as a major leaguer on April 15, 1947. What had made Robinson much more special than any other Major League player, was that he was the first African-American to play in the MLB. He was the one who had crossed the color line in major league baseball in 1947. Which was a very big change for the sports world. After his career in baseball, he became very political. He classified himself as a political independent even though he had conservative opinions on some issues.
Problems over the years:
Because of growing up in poverty Robinson was limited to a very select few sports as a kid which led to him joining a gang. While attending Pasadena Junior College on January 25th, 1938, Robinson was arrested after defending a fellow black friend from the police. He received a two-year suspended sentence. Toward the end of his time at PJC, his brother Frank was killed in a motorcycle accident which moved Jackie to excel in sports.
While he was serving in the armed forces, Robinson, was riding on an Army bus the bus driver had told Robinson to move to the back of the bus because of his skin colour. Robinson himself did not want to move so he did not. But at the end of the bus ride the military police took Robinson into custody, he was then transferred to the 758th Battalion in which the commander charged Robinson for things such as being drunk in public even though Robinson didn't drink.
During his transfer from the Negro Leagues to the MLB he was constantly under the subject for racial slurs. One historic time during Robinson's career was when they were playing a game in Cincinnati and Robinson was going out onto the field, the fans at the stadium began to yell racial slurs at him so his teammate Pee Wee Reese went over to Robinson and put his arm around him and said "You can hate a man for many reasons. Colour is not one of them."
During one game against the Philadelphia Phillies when Robinson went up to bat, the manager Ben Chapman and many different players were yelling "nigger" and were telling him to go back to the cotton fields.
While he was serving in the armed forces, Robinson, was riding on an Army bus the bus driver had told Robinson to move to the back of the bus because of his skin colour. Robinson himself did not want to move so he did not. But at the end of the bus ride the military police took Robinson into custody, he was then transferred to the 758th Battalion in which the commander charged Robinson for things such as being drunk in public even though Robinson didn't drink.
During his transfer from the Negro Leagues to the MLB he was constantly under the subject for racial slurs. One historic time during Robinson's career was when they were playing a game in Cincinnati and Robinson was going out onto the field, the fans at the stadium began to yell racial slurs at him so his teammate Pee Wee Reese went over to Robinson and put his arm around him and said "You can hate a man for many reasons. Colour is not one of them."
During one game against the Philadelphia Phillies when Robinson went up to bat, the manager Ben Chapman and many different players were yelling "nigger" and were telling him to go back to the cotton fields.
Change Time:
Robinson's very great success in the Major Leagues caused the door to open for other fellow African-American players such as Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.
Due to his very famous career he became the vocal spokesperson for African-American athletes and he made those athletes work even harder to achieve the goal of every athlete no matter what colour skin. Jackie also continued to work for greater integration in sports.
Robinson also became a vocal spokesperson for civil rights. He was supporting Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. But after a while Robinson supported JFK because of his stance on civil rights which made Robinson agree with JFK. Robinson was angered by the conservative Republican's opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Robinson had established a construction company named Jackie Robinson Construction Company, which would build housing for low income families. After his death, Robinson's wife established the Jackie Robinson Foundation which was dedicated to all his life and work. This foundation was made to help young people in need of scholarships and mentoring programs.
Due to his very famous career he became the vocal spokesperson for African-American athletes and he made those athletes work even harder to achieve the goal of every athlete no matter what colour skin. Jackie also continued to work for greater integration in sports.
Robinson also became a vocal spokesperson for civil rights. He was supporting Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. But after a while Robinson supported JFK because of his stance on civil rights which made Robinson agree with JFK. Robinson was angered by the conservative Republican's opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Robinson had established a construction company named Jackie Robinson Construction Company, which would build housing for low income families. After his death, Robinson's wife established the Jackie Robinson Foundation which was dedicated to all his life and work. This foundation was made to help young people in need of scholarships and mentoring programs.
"I GUESS YOU'D CALL ME AN INDEPENDENT, SINCE I'VE NEVER IDENTIFIED MYSELF WITH ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER IN POLITICS. I ALWAYS DECIDE MY VOTE BY TAKING AS CAREFUL A LOOK AS I CAN AT THE ACTUAL CANDIDATES AND ISSUES THEMSELVES. NO MATTER WHAT THE PARTY LABEL." - Jackie Robinson
Interesting Information:
After his wonderful baseball career Jackie became active in business and continued to be an activist for social change around the world. He help establish the African American owned and controlled Freedom Bank.
Robinson was one of six national directors for Nelson Rockefeller. He was waiting to be nominated as the Republican candidate but was not, he left the party. Robinson became a special assistant for community affairs. He switched his alliance to the Democrats and supported Hubert Humphrey running against Richard Nixon in 1968.
He was the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He was also the first person in all of Major League Baseball to have his number 42 retired by all 30 teams in the MLB.
Every season on April 15, all 30 teams in the major leagues would wear the number 42 to honour Jackie Robinson on the date of his very famous debut. This date is now called the Jackie Robinson Day.
There has also been a movie made based on the story of Jackie Robinson called 42. This movie was released in 2013 and a specific quote from the movie spoken by Pee Wee Reese states, "Maybe tomorrow, we'll all wear 42, then nobody could tell us apart."
Robinson was one of six national directors for Nelson Rockefeller. He was waiting to be nominated as the Republican candidate but was not, he left the party. Robinson became a special assistant for community affairs. He switched his alliance to the Democrats and supported Hubert Humphrey running against Richard Nixon in 1968.
He was the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He was also the first person in all of Major League Baseball to have his number 42 retired by all 30 teams in the MLB.
Every season on April 15, all 30 teams in the major leagues would wear the number 42 to honour Jackie Robinson on the date of his very famous debut. This date is now called the Jackie Robinson Day.
There has also been a movie made based on the story of Jackie Robinson called 42. This movie was released in 2013 and a specific quote from the movie spoken by Pee Wee Reese states, "Maybe tomorrow, we'll all wear 42, then nobody could tell us apart."
| "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie robinson |