Opening day is not just about jackie robinson and his journey through his inaugural season, it is about america in 1947. Jackie robinsons moving testimony on racism and communism time. Jackie robinson was one of the greatest trailblazers in sports history. Jackie robinsons longest batting streak came during his rookie season when he hit safely in 21 consecutive games.
His outstanding career with the brooklyn dodgers and his dignity in facing the insults and threats that were hurled at him broke down the racial. The story of jackie robinsons first season, by jonathan eig, who crosses boroughs on a subway series of his own after his wellreceived biography of the. Major league baseball celebrates jackie robinson day on april 15 every season. Jun 03, 2007 with that, the season s storyline was set. This year is the 73rd anniversary of robinsons first game in the majors, and due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the 2020 season, the. Apr 01, 2020 when jackie robinson took his position at first base at ebbets field on april 15, 1947, the history of america was changed forever. As great as robinsons first season was, his debut was years in the making and would have ramifications well beyond 1947. Jackie robinson was the first african american to play major league baseball in the united states during the 20th century. On april 15, 1947, he broke the decadesold colour line of major league baseball when he appeared on the field for the national league brooklyn dodgers in a game against the boston braves.
Jackie robinson, age 28, becomes the first african american player in major. Hes well known for a certain iconic first but his entry into major. During his first season in the major leagues, jackie robinson played 11 games at crosley field against the reds, and he found plenty of success. Jackie robinson simple english wikipedia, the free. After the army, robinson played for a season in the negro american league.
Becoming the first africanamerican in major league baseball in the 20th century, robinson faced harsh criticism from fans, other players, and even his own teammates. For more on jackie robinson, please see 42 reasons we love jackie robinson. From this humble beginning would grow the first baseball player to break major. Jack roosevelt robinson was born into a family of sharecroppers on january 31, 1919, in cairo, georgia. His outstanding career with the brooklyn dodgers and his dignity in facing the insults and threats that were hurled at him broke down the racial barriers in americas pastime and opened the. The 1947 brooklyn dodgers, edited by lyle spatz, the first book in sabrs memorable teams in baseball history series with the. The story of jackie robinson s first season by jonathan eig. Jackie robinson, seen above in 1954, was the first africanamerican player in major league baseball. He was the first black man to openly play in the major leagues since the 1880s. After the season ended, he answered reporters questions in this interview from the librarys bob wolff collection. April 15th, 2018 marks the 71st anniversary of the day jackie robinson broke the color barrier and become the first africanamerican to play in a major league baseball game. How jackie robinsons legend and legacy reshaped cardinals.
Mallie, worked a series of odd jobs to support herself and her children. On april 15 each season, every team in the majors celebrates jackie robinson day in honor of when he truly broke the color barrier in baseball, becoming the first africanamerican player in the 20th century to take the field in the big leagues. His season with the bears was cut short when the united states. The story of jackie robinsons first season eig, jonathan on. Jack roosevelt robinson january 31, 1919 october 24, 1972 was an american professional baseball player who became the first african american to play in major league baseball mlb in the modern era. Jackie robinsons fight is a fight that must continue. Jackie robinsons first year in major league baseball. This essay is an excerpt from the team that forever changed baseball and america. Jack roosevelt robinson view player bio from the sabr bioproject. Exceeded rookie limits during 1947 season full name. Opening day by jonathan eig is billed as the story of jackie robinsons first season, which is a mostly accurate description.
When he broke the color barrier in 1947, he faced harsh treatment from his own teammates, as well as players on opposing teams. At the end of robinsons rookie season with the brooklyn dodgers, he had become national league rookie of the year with 12 homers, a leagueleading 29. In 1951 he led national league second sackers in fielding and double plays, and had repeated as the doubleplay leader in 1952. In 1945, jackie played one season in the negro baseball league, traveling all. They were the only black family on their block, and the prejudice they encountered only strengthened their bond. Following his retirement from baseball in 1957, robinson often appeared with martin luther king at rallies, fundraising events, and demonstrations. Jackie robinsons struggle as the first black player in. He famously broke the color line of major league baseball mlb when he appeared on the field for the brooklyn dodgers on april 15, 1947. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the brooklyn dodgers on april 15, 1947.
Jackie robinson and the historic 1947 mlb season, part 1. According to one survey, he was the second most famous man in america, trailing only bing crosby. Johnny sain threw the first pitch against robinson. During the 1953 season, jackie robinson may have had his finest moment. On april 18, 1946, roosevelt stadium hosted the jersey city giants season opener against the montreal royals, marking the professional debut of the royals jackie robinson and the first time the color barrier had been broken in a game between two minor league clubs. On april 15, the braves played against the brooklyn dodgers in jackie robinsons first game. Jackie robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first black athlete to play major league baseball after joining the brooklyn dodgers in 1947. The impact robinson made on major league baseball is one that will be forever remembered. At the end of his first season, robinson was named the rookie of the year. Jackie robinson was a humble man with a strong competitive spirit. Jackie robinson became the first african american to play in a major league game april 15, 1947, when the former ucla foursport standout started at. The first part of the documentary starts with robinsons humble beginnings in rural georgia and follows the athletes life and career up through his first season with the brooklyn dodgers in.
Jackie robinsons anniversary also spotlights decline in black players september 1939. Robinson enrolls at ucla and becomes the schools first athlete to compete in four sports baseball. He had a big role in bringing an end to racial segregation in. Jack roosevelt robinson was born in cairo, georgia in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers.
Jackie robinson, the first african american to play major league baseball, used his prestige as a star athlete to garner support for the civil rights movement. Robinson broke the baseball color barrier when he debuted with the brooklyn dodgers in 1947. B y the end of the 1948 season, his second with the brooklyn dodgers, jackie robinson was an american hero, a tall tale, the man who integrated baseball. Robinson played in six world series and contributed to the dodgers 1955.
The mlb season may be postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus outbreak, but not even a global pandemic will prevent the league from celebrating jackie robinson day. Memorable dodgers opening days begin with jackie robinson. King told robinson, you have made every negro in america proud through your baseball. In 1950 speelde jackie robinson zichzelf in een film van alfred e. Another time when we were talking about robinson, pete said, by the end of that first season, there werent nearly as many people using a particular slur about him theyd been using in april. The story of jackie robinson s first season recalls events of 1947 when, under intense media and public scrutiny, robinson made history as the opening day first baseman for the brooklyn dodgers and major league baseballs first africanamerican player. Jackie robinson and brooklyn dodgers president branch rickey made history when robinson became the first black man to play in the big leagues on april 15, 1947. In his first major league season, robinson led the national league in stolen bases with 29 thefts, that included three steals of home. Jackie robinson simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Behind 32, robinson scored the gamewinning run against the braves.
Second baseman, third baseman and first baseman bats. Jackie robinsons first trip to cincinnati to play the reds. When did jackie robinson integrate baseball and why is it. Apr 15, 2020 jackie robinson and brooklyn dodgers president branch rickey made history when robinson became the first black man to play in the big leagues on april 15, 1947. Jackie robinson is remembered as the man who broke the color barrier in major league baseball and was the first african american inducted into the baseball hall of fame 1962. Jackie robinsons first trip to cincinnati to play the. Did pee wee reese really embrace jackie robinson in 1947. Eig sets up the reader nicely with personal background on robinson, charting his multisport college success at. When the dodgers signed robinson, they heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the negro leagues since the 1880s. He was named the nl mvp just two years later in 1949, when he led the league in. Apr 16, 2020 this year is the 73rd anniversary of robinsons first game in the majors, and due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the 2020 season, the robinson celebrations have been rethought, recast.
Robinson, of course, broke the color barrier in mlb and had a hall of fame career with the dodgers, and he did it all. It was designed to commemorate a moment that occurred in cincinnati, ohio, on may, 1947, the first game of just the second road series during robinsons inaugural season, which saw him break the. The story of jackie robinsons first season, by jonathan eig, who crosses boroughs on a subway series of. Biography the official licensing website of jackie robinson. Jackie robinson, the first black athlete to play major league baseball. His passion to win made him a great ball player, but his passion for equality and justice made him a great man. Apr, 2020 on april 15, 1947, jackie robinson plays his first game with the brooklyn dodgers.
From this humble beginning would grow the first baseball. Jan 16, 2020 jackie robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first black athlete to play major league baseball after joining the brooklyn dodgers in 1947. Robinson, of course, broke the color barrier in mlb and had a. In celebration, this is the first part of a threepart series on the events that took place during the 1947 season.
He would strike out just one time, and draw four walks while hitting. When jackie robinson took his position at first base at ebbets field on april 15, 1947, the history of. It is impossible to write about jackie robinson without writing about race, so this was never going to be a book about only baseball, and it was much more than that. Directed and produced by ken burns, sarah burns and david mcmahon. Contrary to dire predictions, robinsons first season in the major leagues went. On april 15, 1947, jackie robinson, age 28, becomes the first african american player in major league baseball when he steps onto ebbets field in brooklyn to compete for the brooklyn dodgers. A baseball icon, his number was retired across mlb in 1997.
An episode of forgotten figures of black history takes a look at the first black man to boo jackie robinson. Yet, jackie robinson would not only integrate baseball that spring, but by the fall of 1947 he would play in the world series and was named the rookie of the year for the season. Jackie robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first black. The telephone rang like an alarm, waking jackie robinson from deep sleep. The court martial case of jackie robinson african american. Apr 15, 2020 the first part of the documentary starts with robinson s humble beginnings in rural georgia and follows the athletes life and career up through his first season with the brooklyn dodgers in 1947. He had worked hard to develop into a fine defensive second baseman. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the. Jackie robinson the official licensing website of jackie. The story of jackie robinsons first season recalls events of 1947 when, under intense media and public scrutiny, robinson made history as the opening day first baseman for the brooklyn dodgers and major league baseballs first africanamerican player. View jackie robinson s page at the baseball hall of fame plaque, photos, videos. Robinson became baseballs biggest attraction in 1947. In jackie robinsons rookie season, 1947, he was spiked purposely by enos slaughter, the southerner who rumor held considered striking that year rather than play against the majors first.
How to watch ken burns jackie robinson documentary streaming. Mar 24, 2020 b y the end of the 1948 season, his second with the brooklyn dodgers, jackie robinson was an american hero, a tall tale, the man who integrated baseball. Robinson is the first black player to appear in the majors since 1884. Apr 14, 2017 jackie robinsons anniversary also spotlights decline in black players september 1939. How to watch ken burns jackie robinson documentary. The story of jackie robinsons first season, both rated eddie stanky as robinsons earliest important backer. Jackie robinson society for american baseball research. His mother, mallie robinson, singlehandedly raised jackie and her four other children. Jackie robinson, the first black baseball player to play in the american major leagues during the 20th century. Jackie robinson, the first black athlete to play major league baseball, joined the brooklyn dodgers on april 15, 1947, a date now famous as jackie robinson day. The jersey jackie robinson brought home at the end of his historic rookie season with the brooklyn dodgers will be auctioned off next month. The title opening day is misleading as there are only a few paragraphs regarding the opening day game against the boston braves on 15 april 1947, potential readers instead should to focus on the subheading of the story of jackie robinsons first season. Even though we wont be playing baseball on wednesday, april 15 is still jackie robinson day, a national holiday for the national pastime. The dodgers signed robinson to a major league contract just five days before the start of the 1947 season.
After the abuse jackie robinson endured, frank robinson. Jackie robinsons first season, author jonathan eig delves into the personal and professional battles that robinson fought during his rookie season. When jackie robinson took his position at first base at ebbets field on april 15, 1947, the history of america was changed forever. Italic season totals indicate player led all major leagues. Jack roosevelt jackie robinson january 31, 1919 october 24, 1972 was the first africanamerican major league baseball mlb player of modern times. In 1947, jackie robinson 19191972 became the first african american to play baseball on a major league team in the modern era. Jackie robinsons struggle as the first black player in mlb.
Jackie robinsons moving testimony on racism and communism. As jonathan eig wrote in his excellent 2007 book, opening day. Jackie robinson is a production of florentine films and weta, washington, d. Jackie robinsons first year in major league baseball the.
1316 1352 936 1426 1176 481 17 1046 480 742 1185 217 1008 1398 174 91 1308 367 1000 253 1224 745 1342 1170 492 895 958 573 955 1315 391 280 327 1022 1239 106 269 1177 12 1372 1351 1100 111 240 59 1163