Jackie Robinson First Major League Baseball African-American 1947

Apr 15, 2010
Roger Saunders

Jackie Robinson - Public Domain

Branch Ricky and the Brooklyn Dodgers introduce Jack Roosevelt Robinson at Ebbet's Field playing first base, breaking baseball's color line on April 15 1947

Jack Roosevelt Robinson whose middle name memorialized the recently deceased Teddy Roosevelt was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA. A year later his mother along with 3 brothers and a sister moved to Pasadena, CA where she supported the family by working numerous odd jobs. As a young man at John Muir High School, Robinson lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball. After High school he won a Juniors Tennis championship and was named to a Pomona baseball tournament all-star team with Ted Williams and Bob Lemon. In college at UCLA, he lettered in the same four sports becoming the first athlete their to do so.

Jackie Robinson in World War II

America’s entrance into World War II after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor cut short Robinson’s budding career as a running back for the Honolulu Bears and the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Drafted and assigned to Fort Riley in Kansas, he applied to Officer Candidate School. A delay in his acceptance was ended when fellow soldier, Heavy Weight Champion Joe Louis, came to his aid. In 1944, Robinson was court-martialed for refusing to sit in the back of a nonsegregated military bus. He was acquitted of all charges and served as an Army athletics coach until his Honorable Discharge in November 1944.

Negro Leagues and the Minor Leagues

In 1945, Robinson accepted a contract offer from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues for $400/month. He had a stellar year hitting .387 and playing in the All Star game. During that season he also had a tryout with the Boston Red Sox but that turned out to be just a PR sham in which he and the other Black players were subjected to racial epithets by Red Sox management. Branch Rickey began pursuing Robinson in the summer of 1945 and signed him to a Dodger contract on October 23rd. He was subjected to severe segregation in Spring training in Florida that year where ballparks would padlock there gates rather than let him play on their fields. Robinson spent the ’46 season playing for the Dodger’s AAA Montreal Royals.

The Major Leagues

Avoiding Spring training controversy, in 1947, the Dodgers called Jackie Robinson up to the Parent club just 6 days before opening day. Even some Dodge players were unhappy about playing with a Black man. Colorful Dodger Manager Leo Durocher put an end to that foolishness saying, “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a [expletive deleted] zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded." Robinson had to endure much racial abuse, both verbal and physical during his career but many also stood up for him. His teammate Pee Wee Reese once said, “You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them!” Jackie Robinson’s number 42 was retired for ALL baseball teams on April 15, 1997. Major league Baseball has proclaimed April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day and as of 2009 ALL players and managers wear #42 on this day!