“I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag;
I know that I am a Black man in a white world.”
I Never Had It Made with Alfred Duckett, 1972
1941, Jack Roosevelt Robinson becomes the first athlete to letter in four sports for the UCLA Bruins: baseball, basketball, football and track.
1942, Nate Moreland and Jackie Robinson tryout for manager Jimmy Dykes’ Chicago White Sox at its training camp in Pasadena, California. The White Sox finish the season in sixth place with a 66-82 won-lost record.
1946, Former All-American UCLA running back and major league infielder with the Kansas City Monarchs, Jackie Robinson makes his minor league debut, as a second baseman, with the Montreal Royals in Canada.
1946, In June, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to appear on the cover of the NAACP’s Crisis magazine.
1947, Jackie Robinson, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becomes the first African American in modern times to play in the re-integrated major leagues and wins the newly created Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News. Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to lead the National League in stolen bases with 29. Black National League players dominate this statistic category for the next 40 years, not winning in 1948 when Richie Ashburn steals 32 bases and in 1952 when Pee Wee Reese steals 30 bases.
1949, Jackie Robinson, of the Brooklyn Dodgers, becomes the first African American to lead either the American or the National League in batting with a .342 average. Robinson becomes professional baseball’s first Most Valuable Player who was Rookie of the Year.
1949, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indian’s Larry Doby become the first African Americans to play in a major league All-Star game; the American League won 11-7, played at Ebbets Field.
1950, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player to appear on the cover of Life magazine.
1951, Jackie Robinson appears on the November cover of the Sports Stars magazine.
1952, Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson become the first baseball players to appear on the cover of Jet magazine.
1953, The city of Birmingham, Alabama, bars the Jackie Robinson All-Stars, composed of Black and White players from playing due to a 1944 city ordinance, section 859 which states “It shall be unlawful for any person in charge of or in control of any room, hall, theater, picture house, auditoriums, yard, court, ballpark, public park or indoor or outdoor place, to which both white persons and negroes (sic) are admitted, to cause, permit or allow mixing of races.” In 1950, the city passes Ordinance 798-F to add even more restrictions to prevent racial interaction at baseball, softball, football, basketball or similar games.” Robinson’s team includes Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges and Indians outfielder Al Rosen.
1953, Jackie Robinson appears on the February cover of Inside Baseball magazine.
1954, Jackie Robinson appears on the June cover of Our World magazine, published from 1946 to 1957.
1954, Jackie Robinson steals home plate on a rare triple-steal along with teammates Gil Hodges and Sandy Amorós against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1956, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to receive the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal. An honor for “the man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years in any honorable field.”
1957, Jackie Robinson retires from major league baseball. Three league teams, Phillies, Tigers and Red Sox have yet to put an African American on its rosters.
1962, In his first year of eligibility, Jackie Robinson is the first African American inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller is also inducted this year. After a 1946 exhibition game in San Diego Feller claimed Robinson, built like a football player, with broad shoulders, was too musclebound to be able to handle inside pitching and would never make it in the re-integrated major leagues. Jackie Robinson appears on the cover of the Negro Digest, a magazine in format like the Reader’s Digest.
1965, Jackie Robinson joins the ABC-TV baseball broadcast team, becoming the first African American to receive a network broadcasting position. ABC provides the first ever nationwide coverage of baseball every Saturday afternoon.
1966, Jackie Robinson is named manager of the Continental League’s Brooklyn Dodgers Football Club, Inc. The announcement on May 2 is made by league Commissioner Saul Rosen and club president Jerry Jacobs.
1982, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to be honored on an U.S. postage stamp.
1987, Forty years after his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Rookie of the Year Award is renamed the Jackie Robinson Award, given to a player from the American and the National League. This is the first MLB award named after a former Negro Leaguer.
1997, Jackie Robinson becomes the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box, while also on Honey Frosted Wheaties and Crispy Wheaties 'n Raisins. This is the first time one person has been on all three boxes.
1997, Jackie Robinson becomes the first athlete to have his jersey number (42) retired in perpetuity. National League President Len Coleman initiates the mandate. The New York Yankees’ player Mariano Rivera, who retired after the 2013, was the last active player to wear No. 42.
2003, Jackie Robinson becomes the first Black ball player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. It is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”
2007, In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, five teams – Dodgers, Astros, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals – feature all players wearing number 42.
2021, The historical marker to honor Jackie Robinson’s birthplace at the Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, Georgia, is damaged by gunfire.
2022, The Jackie Robinson Museum opens in New York City. It is the city’s first museum primarily focused on the Civil Rights Movement.
1942, Nate Moreland and Jackie Robinson tryout for manager Jimmy Dykes’ Chicago White Sox at its training camp in Pasadena, California. The White Sox finish the season in sixth place with a 66-82 won-lost record.
1946, Former All-American UCLA running back and major league infielder with the Kansas City Monarchs, Jackie Robinson makes his minor league debut, as a second baseman, with the Montreal Royals in Canada.
1946, In June, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to appear on the cover of the NAACP’s Crisis magazine.
1947, Jackie Robinson, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becomes the first African American in modern times to play in the re-integrated major leagues and wins the newly created Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News. Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to lead the National League in stolen bases with 29. Black National League players dominate this statistic category for the next 40 years, not winning in 1948 when Richie Ashburn steals 32 bases and in 1952 when Pee Wee Reese steals 30 bases.
1949, Jackie Robinson, of the Brooklyn Dodgers, becomes the first African American to lead either the American or the National League in batting with a .342 average. Robinson becomes professional baseball’s first Most Valuable Player who was Rookie of the Year.
1949, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indian’s Larry Doby become the first African Americans to play in a major league All-Star game; the American League won 11-7, played at Ebbets Field.
1950, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player to appear on the cover of Life magazine.
1951, Jackie Robinson appears on the November cover of the Sports Stars magazine.
1952, Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson become the first baseball players to appear on the cover of Jet magazine.
1953, The city of Birmingham, Alabama, bars the Jackie Robinson All-Stars, composed of Black and White players from playing due to a 1944 city ordinance, section 859 which states “It shall be unlawful for any person in charge of or in control of any room, hall, theater, picture house, auditoriums, yard, court, ballpark, public park or indoor or outdoor place, to which both white persons and negroes (sic) are admitted, to cause, permit or allow mixing of races.” In 1950, the city passes Ordinance 798-F to add even more restrictions to prevent racial interaction at baseball, softball, football, basketball or similar games.” Robinson’s team includes Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges and Indians outfielder Al Rosen.
1953, Jackie Robinson appears on the February cover of Inside Baseball magazine.
1954, Jackie Robinson appears on the June cover of Our World magazine, published from 1946 to 1957.
1954, Jackie Robinson steals home plate on a rare triple-steal along with teammates Gil Hodges and Sandy Amorós against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1956, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to receive the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal. An honor for “the man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years in any honorable field.”
1957, Jackie Robinson retires from major league baseball. Three league teams, Phillies, Tigers and Red Sox have yet to put an African American on its rosters.
1962, In his first year of eligibility, Jackie Robinson is the first African American inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller is also inducted this year. After a 1946 exhibition game in San Diego Feller claimed Robinson, built like a football player, with broad shoulders, was too musclebound to be able to handle inside pitching and would never make it in the re-integrated major leagues. Jackie Robinson appears on the cover of the Negro Digest, a magazine in format like the Reader’s Digest.
1965, Jackie Robinson joins the ABC-TV baseball broadcast team, becoming the first African American to receive a network broadcasting position. ABC provides the first ever nationwide coverage of baseball every Saturday afternoon.
1966, Jackie Robinson is named manager of the Continental League’s Brooklyn Dodgers Football Club, Inc. The announcement on May 2 is made by league Commissioner Saul Rosen and club president Jerry Jacobs.
1982, Jackie Robinson becomes the first baseball player to be honored on an U.S. postage stamp.
1987, Forty years after his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Rookie of the Year Award is renamed the Jackie Robinson Award, given to a player from the American and the National League. This is the first MLB award named after a former Negro Leaguer.
1997, Jackie Robinson becomes the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box, while also on Honey Frosted Wheaties and Crispy Wheaties 'n Raisins. This is the first time one person has been on all three boxes.
1997, Jackie Robinson becomes the first athlete to have his jersey number (42) retired in perpetuity. National League President Len Coleman initiates the mandate. The New York Yankees’ player Mariano Rivera, who retired after the 2013, was the last active player to wear No. 42.
2003, Jackie Robinson becomes the first Black ball player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. It is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”
2007, In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, five teams – Dodgers, Astros, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals – feature all players wearing number 42.
2021, The historical marker to honor Jackie Robinson’s birthplace at the Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, Georgia, is damaged by gunfire.
2022, The Jackie Robinson Museum opens in New York City. It is the city’s first museum primarily focused on the Civil Rights Movement.
