Robinson, Jackie
1919-1972 · Contribution: 1947
Broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in the modern era
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Became the first Black player in modern MLB history on April 15, 1947, going on to win the inaugural Rookie of the Year award, the 1949 National League MVP, and becoming the first Black inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962; his uniform number 42 was retired league-wide in 1997.
Life & background
A four-sport star at UCLA, Robinson was signed by Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey and made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, enduring intense racist abuse from fans, opposing players, and even some teammates while breaking modern baseball's color barrier. He went on to win the National League MVP in 1949 and became the first Black player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Off the field, he became an outspoken civil rights advocate, using his platform to push for further integration in baseball and beyond.
Sources
- National Baseball Hall of Fame; Encyclopædia Britannica; Library of Congress (Jackie Robinson Papers)
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