THE LIFE STORY OF JACKIE ROBINSON

ROBINSONS EARLY LIFE

• Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972)
• youngest of five children, Robinson was raised in relative poverty
• attended John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College
• played four sports: football, basketball, track, and baseball
• Jackie received varsity letters in all four sports

JACKIES MILITARY DAYS

• drafted into the military to a segregated cavalry unit in Kansas.
• faced discrimination when he and other colored soldiers applied for Officer Candidate School
• later accepted after much fighting and debate.
• he was commisioned as a Second Lieutiant in the United States military.

JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION

• non-profit organization which gives scholarships to minority youths for higher education
• The foundation was founded by Rachel Robinson, Jackies wife
• The foundation also runs education and leadership development programs
• Since its founding, over 1,200 individuals have received scholarships

QUESTIONS

• What were the difficulties that Jackie Robinson faced when he tried to play baseball with white players?
• What were some of Robinson's highlights as a Major League Baseball player?
• Why do pros wear the number "42" on Jackie Robinson day?
• Who was the only player to wear "42" before they retired the number?

What were some of Robinson's highlights as a Major League Baseball player?

• Game one of the 1955 world Series Robinson stole home and was safe
• Retired his number "42" in all of baseball untill this day
• First African American baseball player in all of the MLB
• Robinson won the 1949 Most Valuable Player award for the National League

WHAT WERE THE DIFFICULTIES ROBINSON HAD TO FACE PLAYING WITH WHITE PLAYERS?

• Robinson faced discrimination on the field
• They didnt like Jackie because his skin color wasn't like everybody elses
• He faced threats towards his wife and kid from white americans
• Pitchers would hit him on purpose because they didn't like him

WHY DO PROS WEAR THE NUMBER "42" ON JACKIE ROBINSON DAY ?

• Shows that there is no color barrier and everybody is equal
• Jackie Robinson made his major league debut. April 15 was Opening Day in 1947
• Every player on every team wore Robinson's iconic number 42
• In 1997, MLB "universally" retired his uniform number "42" across all major league teams

Who was the only player to wear "42" before they retired the number?
The only player to wear 42 before it was retired was Mariano Rivera. A retired closing pitcher for the New York Yankees.

WHY DID BRANCH RICKEY PUT JACKIE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES?

• Branch Rickey recruited black ballplayers for his team
• He wanted to give African Americans a chance to play baseball
• Branch Rickey wanted to break the color barrier
• He wanted a new way to watch baseball and make it more interesting