Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, breaking the baseball color line in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He faced considerable racism but had a successful career, retiring in 1956 and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Robinson accomplished much more than just his baseball career, as he was also a family man, military veteran, and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation to help students attend college. His legacy continues to be honored today on Jackie Robinson Day each April.
2. Most people remember Jackie Robinson for
Major League Baseball. But it's likely that
Robinson himself would count that as the
least of his Accomplishments.
3. Jackie Robinson was A brother to four, a
father of three and a husband. The youngest
of five children, Robinson was raised by a
single mother.
4.
5. Jackie Robinson was born in January 31 Cairo,
Georgia, the fifth. Jackie Robinson died on
October 24, 1972. He died from a heart attack.
6. Jackie Robinson's first year in professional
basketball was in 1946 .He retired in 1956.
Robinson was also the first African American
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
7. On April 15, Major League Baseball celebrates
Jackie Robinson Day. On April 15 in 1947,
Robinson broke the baseball color line and
became the first African American to play on a
major sports team.
8. Rachel and Jackie were married from 1946
until 1972, when Jackie died at the age of 53.
Rachel is now 90, and she still comes to work a
couple days a week at the Jackie Robinson
Foundation, which she started 40 years ago.
9. he was an excellent athlete and played for the
football, basketball, track, and baseball team.
His season with the Bears was cut short when
the United States entered him into World War
II.
10. The Foundation has helped to send thousands
of students to college.
, the actor Chadwick Boseman, shortly after he
was cast to play Jackie in the movie 42. Bose
man had really wanted to meet Rachel. He is 31
and was born a decade after Jackie's death.