Jackie Robinson
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Contest:
The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023
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Embed from Getty Images
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Sport(s):
Baseball
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Statistics:
1 World Series Championship (1955)
1 MVP (1949)
6 All-Star Games (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 & 1954)
1 Batting Title (1949)
2 Stolen Base Titles (1947 & 1949)
.311 Batting Average
1,518 Hits
137 Home Runs
734 Runs Batted In
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Number retired by all Major League Baseball Teams
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team
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After World War II, many within Major League Baseball knew that it was time to re-integrate (there had been black players in the Majors in the 1880s), and it was the Brooklyn Dodgers who took that first step with Jackie Robinson, a second baseman with the Kansas City Monarchs.
Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey, knew that the first African-American to enter the Majors in the 20th Century had not only to be an excellent baseball player but one if even temperament and outstanding character. Robinson was such a man.
Facing unspeakable racism, Robinson would thrive on the diamond, winning the 1949 National League MVP and taking the Dodgers to six World Series, winning it all in 1955. He became a clubhouse leader, and he was a leader off of it.
In recognition of his contributions to Baseball, Robinson’s number 42 was unilaterally retired across the Majors.
We are proud to nominate Jackie Robinson for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.