What Year Did Jackie Robinson Start Baseball?

Do you know what year Jackie Robinson started playing baseball? If you’re a fan of the sport, you probably do. But for those who don’t know, Jackie Robinson started playing baseball in 1947.

That means that this year marks the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s start in baseball. An amazing feat, to be sure. And one that we should all remember.

Jackie Robinson’s Life

Jackie Robinson was an American baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson started his professional career in baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945. He played one season of minor league baseball before being called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Early Life

Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children. His parents worked hard, but could not earn enough money to provide for their family. When Jackie was six years old, his father left the family and his mother had to raise her children on her own.

Robinson’s mother instilled in him a love of learning. She taught him how to read and write before he even started school. When Jackie was old enough to attend school, he had to walk eight miles to get there. Despite the long journey, he never missed a day of school.

When Robinson was 13 years old, his brother Mack encouraged him to try out for a semi-professional baseball team in Pasadena, California. Jackie made the team and played shortstop. He batted .097 and did not make an error in 23 games. After one season, he returned home to attend Pasadena Junior College (now Pasadena City College).

College Years

In 1936 Jackie Robinson played baseball, football, basketball, and ran track for Pasadena Junior College. In May of that year he was elected president of the student body, becoming the first interconnected African American to do so in the campus’s history. In June he was selected to representing California junior colleges in the state’s Olympic tryouts. After one semester at PJC, where he maintained a C average, Robinson transferred to UCLA where he continued to excel in athletics.

Professional Career

Robinson’s potential as a professional player was first recognized by Brooklyn Dodgers’ president and general manager Branch Rickey. In 1945, Rickey signed Robinson to a contract with the Dodgers’ organization that included a $3,500 bonus. Robinson was assigned to the Dodgers’ minor-league team in Montreal.

In 1947, Robinson was called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the first African American player in Major League Baseball. He played his first game on April 15, 1947, at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. He continued to face racism from both players and fans, but he persevered and went on to have an extraordinary rookie season. He helped lead the Dodgers to the National League pennant that year and was named Rookie of the Year.

The following year, Robinson was again instrumental in helping the Dodgers win the National League pennant. They went on to win the World Series that year, defeating the New York Yankees in seven games. Robinson continued to excel throughout his career, winning the Most Valuable Player award in 1949 and leading the Dodgers to six World Series appearances between 1947 and 1956. He retired from baseball in 1957 after 10 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Integration of Baseball

1947 was the year that Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. This event was a symbol of the breaking down of the color barrier in professional baseball. It was also a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Negro Leagues

The Negro Leagues were professional baseball leagues in the United States for players who were excluded from Major League Baseball (MLB) because of the color line. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams prior to the formation of the Negro National League (NNL) in 1920. It reduced the number of Negros playing baseball by persuading many of them to leave for the major leagues.

The Major Leagues

The integration of baseball was a long and difficult process that spanned over 60 years. From the late 1800s until 1947, baseball was segregated, with black players playing in their own leagues. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player to play in the major leagues, breaking the color barrier. Over the next few decades, more and more black players entered the majors, eventually changing the game forever.

The Legacy of Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. As he was born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson is also credited with endearing baseball to the South. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.