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Jackie Robinson: Teams
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Robinson was a slightly curious candidate as the first Black Major Leaguer. Not only was he 27 years old, old for a prospect, he ... had a fiery temperament. His future Dodger teammate Roy Campanella might have been a better candidate to face the jeering crowds, and abusive opponents. But it was Robinson.
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After Jackie Robinson broke major-league baseball's color barrier by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, other black players hoped to follow. Other teams, as well. But some teams, including the Phillies, remained reluctant to integrate for a decade or more.
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Jackie grew up idolizing his older brother Mack, who was ... an outstanding athlete. Mack Robinson was so good in track, he went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany as a member of the U.S. track team. He finished second to Jesse Owens in the 200-meter dash. Having Mack as an older brother helped push Jackie in his own desires.
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Robinson became known for his graceful fielding, timely hitting, and aggressive base running. Over his ten major league seasons he executed one of baseball’s rarest and most exciting plays—stealing home—19 times. In 1949 Robinson was voted the NL’s most valuable player (MVP) after he produced a .342 batting average with 37 steals and 124 runs batted in. His skill and dramatic flair increased Brooklyn’s attendance and helped make the club one of the best teams in baseball. The Dodgers played in six World Series during Robinson’s ten seasons and in 1955 finally won their first championship title.
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Early on, the Robinson boys displayed exceptional athletic abilities. Jackie's older brother Mack was a track star who earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team in 1936, went to Adolf Hitler's Germany, and in the 200-meter dash won a silver medal behind Jesse Owens. When Mack Robinson returned home, the only job he could find in Pasadena was as a street sweeper.
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At the 50th anniversary ceremony of Robinson’s debut, at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1997, then-President Clinton spoke and Selig announced Robinson’s No. 42 was being retired by all major league teams. The only player wearing No. 42 then who remains active is New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera. After Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. asked for permission to wear the number Sunday, Selig invited others to use No. 42 for the day.
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