Jackie Robinson:An American Hero

• Born John Roosevelt Robinson in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia.

• Jackie’s family were sharecroppers.• Sharecroppers tended someone else’s farm land for

a portion of the profits.

Jackie Robinson with his mother and siblings. He is age 6, the second from the left.

Jackie’s College Years

• Jackie attended UCLA where he was an excellent baseball, basketball, football, and track athlete.

Unfortunately, due to financial hardships, Jackie had to leave UCLA and he joined the

Army.

Jackie in his Army uniform.

The Negro League

After leaving the Army in 1945 Jackie joined the Negro League.

•In the Negro League Jackie played for the Kansas City Monarchs.

•He was paid $400 a month to play shortstop.

•Playing in the Negro League was not always easy because players did not receive the same benefits as those in the Major League.

•Players were also harassed because of their race. www.afro.com/history/Robinson/negro.html

Minor League Baseball

• Due to his skills, Jackie was quickly noticed by Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

• Jackie played briefly for the

Montreal Royals before

joining the Brooklyn

Dodgers in 1947.

“The Great Experiment”

• Branch Rickey knew Jackie was a strong athlete.

•Rickey also knew Jackie would have to withstand public humiliations.

•The hiring of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers was known as “The Great Experiment.”

A Big Step for African American Ball Players

•Jackie was the first African American player in the Major League since 1889.

Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey

Career Highlights

• At the end of his first

season, 1947, Jackie was

the first Major League

Rookie of the Year.

• That same season he was

5th in the National League’s

Most Valuable Player voting.

•In 1947 Jackie had 12 homeruns, 29 stolen bases, and a .297 average.

•In 1949 Jackie was voted the National League MVP, with 37 stolen bases, batting in 124 runs, and an average of .342.

Jackie in his Dodger’s uniform.

•In 1962 Jackie was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

•A postage stamp was designed and released in 1997 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of joining the Brooklyn Dodgers.

•Jackie wanted to raise an awareness in society that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of race.

•Many organizations and foundations have been established in his honor.

•April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball.

Jackie died in 1972 at the age of 53.

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me…all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

--Jackie Robinson

Jackie with teammates on his first day as a Brooklyn Dodger.

Sources

• www.afro.com/history/Robinson/negro.html• www.baseballhalloffame.org• www.jackierobinson.com• www.mlb.com

Created by Shawn Hurman

High Point Elementary School

Fall 2005