 Born and raised in Cairo, Georgia.  He was the youngest of five children raised into poverty by his mother.  Attended Pasadena Junior College where he played baseball, basketball, football and track.  He transferred to UCLA where he was the first student to receive letters to play four sports.  Later fell short of a graduates degree due to financial issues.

 Drafted into the army on April 3, 1942 where he served two years.  After graduating from officer candidate school he earned second lieutenants bar and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas.  Robinson was arrested for refusing the bus drivers order to go to the back of the bus but later received honorable discharge.  In 1948 a presidential executive order forced desegregation.

 The blacks played in the “Negro Leagues” and whites had their own league.  He played for the Kansas City, Monarchs for a year and later signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Dogers manager Branch Rickey knew the difficulty he would face and had him promise to not fight back against the racism which surrounded him both on and off the field.  After a rough start he overcame diversity and later became the National Leagues most valuable player award.

 He entered the big leagues at the age of 28 and played 10 years. Though he dealt with several injuries thought his career he had a career bating avg. of.311, led the Dodgers to a world series and was a six time all star. 

 His efforts to overcome prejudice set a president for all other black athletes.  "There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."  "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."  Jackie retired in 1953 and went on to serve as an executive on the board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

 Jackie was the first African-American to join the baseball hall of fame.  His number was retired from professional baseball on April 5 th 1997 making the 5 th of April national Jackie Robinson day.  After his death, Jackie's wife created the Jackie Robinson Foundation dedicated to honoring his life and work. This foundation created scholarships for 141 students annually.

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