Born: 31 January 1919
Birth Name: Jack Roosevelt Robinson
Birthplace: Cairo, GA
Occupation: American baseball player, the first African-American player in the modern major leagues
Died: 24 October 1972 (diabetes)
While enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles (1939-41), Robinson established an enviable reputation in baseball, basketball, football, and track. In 1941, he joined the Los Angeles Bulldogs as a professional football player in the Pacific Coast League. He joined the army to fight in World War II and, in 1945, was discharged as a lieutenant. As the first African-American ballplayer in the International League, he signed up for the Montreal Royals, a Brooklyn farm team. Robinson proved himself as a second baseman by winning the league batting crown. In 1947, another precedent was set when Robinson was invited to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1949, he won the National League batting crown, hitting .342, and was named the National League's most valuable player. Robinson set records in fielding, batting, and base stealing. In 1962, Robinson became the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Negro League Baseball
