It was 1947 when Jack Roosevelt Robinson, known as ‘Jackie’ in popular culture, put an end to segregation in baseball as the first African American player in the major leagues. This Mini Bio reveals his life before baseball, highlights his roles as an American soldier, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, a World Series Champion with the Brooklyn Dodgers, rookie of the year, MVP, a Baseball Hall of Famer, an inspiration, and beyond.
A little known fact: His older brother Matthew ‘Mack’ Robinson finished just .04 seconds behind four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Via Atlas Obscura: Though they had a complex relationship with the city, both brothers are honored with huge memorial statues in their hometown of Pasadena, California. Plus, via Mental Floss:
You won’t see any baseball players wearing the number 42: In 1997, Robinson’s number was retired throughout Major League Baseball. This was the first and only time a jersey number had been retired throughout an entire professional sports league.
Finally, on NPR.org, listen to Jackie Robinson: This I Believe.
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