Legend Spotlights

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He was the first African American baseball player to play in Major League Baseball. He started his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers along with Robinson broke the baseball color line when they started him at first base on April 15, 1947. He played in six World Series and helped the Dodgers win the World Championship in 1955. He played with the Dodgers for over 10 seasons. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He died ten years later on October 24, 1972. After his death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as the Congressional Gold Medal.