Jackie Robinson

Background

Jackie Robinson was born to Jerry Robinson and Mallie McGriff. His was a family of sharecroppers. He was born in Cairo, Georgia. His family relocated to Pasadena, California, where he would grow up. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. Robinson was an African American professional baseball player who was talented at multiple sports. He grew up in abject poverty. He was inspired to focus on sports by his older brother Mack. Mack himself was a successful athlete who would later win an Olympic medal for track sports. Robinson got into Muir High School in 1936. In the same year, he won the junior singles championship and landed a place on the Pomona baseball all-star team. By 1937, he had dominated the school in basketball, football, track, and baseball for two years.

Robinson enrolled in U.C.L.A. in 1939. He became the first student to letter in four different sports categories. He left college to join National Youth Administration, but the government discontinued N.Y.A. shortly after he joined. As a result, he went to play football with the Honolulu Bears in 1941. Robinson joined the Army and enrolled at Officer Candidate School the following year. He received an honorable discharge in 1944.

Robinson signed for the Royals, an affiliate team to the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1945. He played with the team for the 1946 season. He moved on to the primary team in 1947. Robinson’s presence on the team increased the number of spectators that watched the Dodgers play. By 1950, Jackie Robinson became the highest-paid player on the Dodgers team. He would go on to win six league championships for the Dodgers. Robinson retired in 1956, just after being traded to the New York Giants. After he retired, the number 42 shirt was retired in baseball. He died on October 24, 1972.