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Jackie Robinson was born on January 31st, 1919 to Jerry and Mallie Robinson. He had four older siblings including Frank, Edgar, Matthew, and Willa Mae.
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Jackie Robinson's name at birth was Jack Roosevelt Robinson. He was named after former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who died only 25 days before Jackie was born.
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Jackie Robinson grew up in Pasadena, California, in relative poverty.
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In high school Jackie Robinson was an All-Star baseball player, accomplished tennis player, and his older brother Matthew (nicknamed Mack) won a silver medal in the 200 meter sprint in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
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Jackie was drafted into the army, and although he became a second lieutenant he was arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a segregated bus.
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After being acquitted Jackie Robinson served as an athletics coach in the army until being honorably discharged in 1944.
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Jackie Robinson signed a contract to play baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945 in the Negro League.
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In 1946 Jackie Robinson played for the Montreal Royals in Minor League Baseball and a year later he was called up the Major Leagues.
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Jackie Robinson's debut in Major League Baseball occurred on April 15th, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, at Ebbets Field.
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In Jackie's first year he achieved a battling average of .297, and had 175 hits, 12 home runs, and 48 runs batted in, resulting in his award of Rookie of the Year for 1947.
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Jackie Robinson's first year in the Major Leagues was not an easy one. IT was common for baseball fans to call racial slurs at him.
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Between 1949 and 1954 Jackie Robinson was a six-time All-Star.
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In 1950 a movie was released titled The Jackie Robinson Story, in which Jackie played himself.
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Jackie Robinson went on speaking tours which earned him more money than his baseball contract.
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During Jackie Robinson's career he played in a total of six World Series. His team won in 1955 when they played against the New York Yankees.
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Jackie Robinson died in 1972 at the age of 53, in Stamford, Connecticut.
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Jackie Robinson's number was 42. His jersey was retired in 1997 at Shea Stadium.
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Jackie Robinson Day was announced by Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig with Jackie's daughter Sharon at his side in 2004.
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Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated each year at stadiums across the United States.
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In honor of Jackie Robinson players often wear jerseys with the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day. By 2012 all coaches, umpires, and players wore Jackie's number on Jackie Robinson Day.
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