Jackie Robinson. From a clear cut baseball standpoint he was a second baseman with great numbers. .311 batting average, 137 home runs, 197 stolen bases, a six time all-star, 1947 Rookie of the year, the 1949 NL MVP, a 1955 World Series winner, and a 1962 Hall of Fame inductee.
However, Jackie Robinson was so much more.
On April 15th, 1947 the Brooklyn Dodgers called Jackie up to the big league club to play first base. This racial segregation breaking moment in time changed baseball and inspired a nation. Jackie didn't protest, he didn't argue, he didn't yell or scream back at bigots and haters who wanted to watch the man fail for no reason other than his skin color. Jackie just played ball, and he did it just as good, if not better, than anyone on the field whenever he played.
A natural athlete who lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball at Muir Tech, his leadership ability shined brightly as the shortstop for baseball, quaterback for football, and point guard in basketball. His same positions and skills transferred over to Pasadena Junior College where he broke school records.
In 1942, Robinson was drafted into the Army. Although qualified for the Officer Candidate School, the Army made several "delays" with his application which caught the eyes of the press. Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis and Truman Gibson protested and Jackie was finally accepted into OCS finally bearing his second lieutenant rank once completed. During his time in the Army a prior ankle injury that required hospital testing led to an event that would change his life. Boarding an Army bus to report to the Army's medical building, the bus driver ordered Robinson to move to the back of the bus, he refused and the military police took him into custody. He was acquitted of all charges by an all white panel of nine officers. The experiences he was subjected to during the court proceedings would be remembered when he later joined MLB and was subjected to racist attacks. Due to his ankle injury never got to deploy with his unit to see combat action, and finished out his time serving as a coach for Army athletics until receiving his honorable discharge in November 1944.
Jackie Robinson's baseball career started with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues where he was an All-Star. His play drew interest from MLB everywhere. Dodgers signed him to their Class AAA affiliate, the Montreal Royals. Another league, another excellent season as Jackie was awarded the MVP for his stellar play.
On April 15th, 1947 Jackie Robinson changed everything by walking onto the field at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Sixty years of segregation in baseball was brought to a close. He had to stand in the face of adversity every day and prove to society that all that matters is how you play the game, not the color of your skin. He did it with class too. This man and his family dealt with people despising him for no reason and screaming the most insensitive things at him. Threatening him. Wishing ill of him and his closest friends and family. He stood on that field and played. His 1947 Rookie of the Year campaign with .297 batting average, 12 HR, and 29 SB helped quiet critics. His MVP year in 1949 with 16 HR, 37 SB, and 124 RBIs helped quiet critics. His 1955 world series ring helped quiet critics. In 1997, Robinson's jersey number, #42, was retired throughout all of MLB. No longer are the critics quiet. As a matter of fact, there are no more critics...only fans.
Every April 15th in Major League Baseball, everyone on the field wears #42 as an honor and a tribute. A tribute to a man that changed the game forever.
Thank you Jackie, for making baseball better. Today, we all wear 42...
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