April 15th 2007, marked the 60 year anniversary after Robinson’s debut in the Major Leagues, and each year since 2007 players have wore Robinson’s #42 to commemorate the history and life of Jackie Robinson.
The Idea
The idea was thought of by another African American Major League great, Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey then went to Bud Selig, who then invited others around the league to wear the jersey number. Over 200 players wore the number on that day in 2007, and the numbers continued to grow in 2008, and even more last week in the 62nd anniversary of the first time Robinson put on a major league jersey.
Childhood and Beginning of Professional Career
Before he excelled in varsity sports, Robinson was growing up in poverty, and along with his four siblings was being raised by his single mother. He left a neighbourhood gang before he went to his high school. Baseball wasn’t the only team that Jackie was a member of. He was also a star in basketball, football and track. It was not all glory however. Like many men and women of colour, Robinson was arrested for what is still questionable reasons and was given two years probation during his college years.
Baseball wasn’t Jackie’s first sports profession. Robinson played football for a couple of teams before being drafted into the army for World War II. Being drafted led to a lifelong friendship between Robinson and boxer and former heavyweight champion Joe Louis. Although he became an officer, Robinson never actually participated in the Second World War.
After the war, Jackie was a success in the Negro leagues before being scouted by Branch Rickey who was looking for an African – American talent who was able to withstand the racial slurs and comments. He was selected to play for the Brooklyn Dodger’s farm team the Montreal Royals. Florida at the time was a heavily racist area, and the practice facility did not like the presence of Robinson. Jackie silenced critics the best way possible, with his performance on the field. A high average and athletic fielding produced praise for the Georgia native.
Professional Baseball
The discrimination was not over even when was called on to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Newspapers and many white fans supported him, but many of his own teammates did not and would rather not play at all, then to play with Jackie. The already talented second baseman kept improving however; as he gathered more steals and improved his batting average. In 1956 Jackie won the World Series, and even though it was not his best year in the majors, it was certainly a memorable one. In 1972, Robinson died at the young age of 53 from a heart attack. The once agile player had developed many health problems later in his life including heart disease and diabetes.
Although he only won one World Series, it is hard to imagine any other player in history that has went through more adversity than Jackie Robinson to achieve the significant championship. Although he started his professional career late at the age of 28, it was quality over quantity, and his career provided future African-American and other discriminated player’s quantity time at the plate and on the field.
