Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first Black player to appear in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first Black player to appear in Major League Baseball in the modern era. He broke MLB’s color line with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and later became a prominent civil rights advocate. His debut is a landmark in North American sports history, widely recognized in Canada as part of the shared history of baseball and civil rights in the United States and Canada.

Early life and education

Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, and raised in Pasadena, California. He attended UCLA, where he competed in multiple sports before entering professional baseball.

Baseball career

Robinson signed with the Montreal Royals in 1945 and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. His debut on April 15, 1947, ended baseball’s modern-era color barrier. He played for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1956 and finished his MLB career with a .311 batting average.

Legacy

Robinson’s breakthrough is widely regarded as one of the most important events in American sports history. MLB retired his number 42 across the league in 1997, and April 15 is commemorated annually as Jackie Robinson Day.

Civil rights and later life

After baseball, Robinson remained active in public life and supported civil rights causes, including work connected to the NAACP. He died on October 24, 1972, at age 53.