Early Life and Education of Jackie Robinson: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jackie Robinson. A timeline of key moments.

Jackie Robinson was a pivotal figure in American history as the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. On April 15, 1947, he broke the color barrier by starting at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, ending racial segregation in professional baseball that had persisted since the 1880s. His courageous act paved the way for other Black athletes and marked a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

January 31, 1919: Jack Roosevelt Robinson Born

On January 31, 1919, Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia. He would later become the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

1920: Family Moves to Pasadena

In 1920, after Jackie Robinson's father left the family, they moved to Pasadena, California, beginning a new chapter in their lives.

1922: Rachel Isum Born

In 1922, Rachel Isum, Jackie Robinson's future wife, was born. She met Robinson while she was a freshman at UCLA.

1935: Graduation from Junior High School

In 1935, Jackie Robinson graduated from Washington Junior High School and enrolled at John Muir Technical High School.

1936: Inspired by Brothers

In 1936, Jackie Robinson was inspired by his older brothers, Frank and Mack, to pursue his interest in sports, shaping his athletic journey.

1936: Tennis and Baseball Achievements

In 1936, Jackie Robinson won the junior boys singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament and earned a place on the Pomona annual baseball tournament all-star team.

January 1937: Outstanding Athlete at Muir

In January 1937, the Pasadena Star-News reported that Jackie Robinson had been the outstanding athlete at Muir for two years, excelling in football, basketball, track, baseball, and tennis.

January 25, 1938: Arrested for Disputing Detention

On January 25, 1938, Jackie Robinson was arrested after vocally disputing the detention of a black friend by police, resulting in a two-year suspended sentence.

May 7, 1938: Broad Jump Record

On May 7, 1938, Jackie Robinson broke an American junior college broad-jump record at Pasadena Junior College (PJC) with a jump of 25 ft 6+1⁄2 in.

1939: Enrolls at UCLA

After graduating from PJC, in spring of 1939, Jackie Robinson enrolled at UCLA and became the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track.

1939: Undefeated Season

In 1939, Jackie Robinson was one of four black players on the Bruins' football team that went undefeated with four ties at 6–0–4. Robinson finished the season with 12.2 yards per attempt on 42 carries.

1940: Left College and Took a Job

In 1940, Jackie Robinson left college just shy of graduation and took a job as an assistant athletic director with the government's National Youth Administration (NYA) in Atascadero, California.

1940: NCAA Championship

In 1940, Jackie Robinson won the NCAA championship in the long jump at 24 ft 10+1⁄4 in (7.58 m).

1940: Led NCAA

Jackie Robinson led the NCAA in punt return average in the 1939 and 1940 seasons.

July 1941: Army OCS Guidelines

In July 1941, the Army's initial guidelines for Officer Candidate School (OCS) were drafted as race-neutral, but few black applicants were admitted until subsequent directives by Army leadership.

December 1941: Return to California

In December 1941, after playing football for the Honolulu Bears, Jackie Robinson returned to California to pursue a career with the Los Angeles Bulldogs, but his football career was cut short by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

1942: Drafted into the Army

In 1942, Jackie Robinson was drafted into the Army and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit at Fort Riley, Kansas.

January 1943: Commissioned as Second Lieutenant

In January 1943, after completing OCS, Jackie Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Shortly afterward, he and Rachel Isum were formally engaged.

July 6, 1944: Bus Incident

On July 6, 1944, Jackie Robinson was taken into custody by military police after refusing to move to the back of an Army bus, leading to a recommendation for court-martial.

August 1944: Acquittal by Court-Martial

In August 1944, Jackie Robinson was acquitted by an all-white panel of nine officers on charges of insubordination during questioning.

November 1944: Honorable Discharge

In November 1944, after serving as a coach for army athletics at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, Jackie Robinson received an honorable discharge. While there, Robinson was encouraged to contact the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League for a tryout.

1944: Athletic Director at Samuel Huston College

In 1944, Jackie Robinson returned to his old football club, the Los Angeles Bulldogs, then accepted an offer from Rev. Karl Downs to be the athletic director at Samuel Huston College, coaching the school's basketball team for the 1944-45 season.

1945: Plays for Kansas City Monarchs

In early 1945, Jackie Robinson accepted an offer to play professional baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues for $400 per month. He played 47 games at shortstop, hitting .387 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases.

February 10, 1946: Robinson marries Isum

On February 10, 1946, Jackie Robinson and Isum were married by their friend, the Rev. Karl Downs.

1946: Robinson plays for the Montreal Royals

In 1946, Jackie Robinson played for the Montreal Royals. It was a positive experience in contrast to the racial bias in the South.

1946: Birth of Jackie Robinson Jr.

In 1946, Jackie Robinson's eldest son, Jackie Robinson Jr., was born.

April 15, 1947: Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball and ending racial segregation in professional baseball.

1948: Truman desegregates the military

After World War II, President Harry Truman desegregated the military in 1948.

1949: "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" song

In 1949, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?", a song about Jackie Robinson by Buddy Johnson, became popular, reaching number 13 on the charts. Count Basie also recorded a version of the song that year. The Dodgers won the National League pennant but were defeated by the New York Yankees in the 1949 World Series.

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1949: Testimony before HUAC

In July 1949, Jackie Robinson was called to testify before the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) regarding statements made by Paul Robeson. Despite his reluctance, Robinson agreed to testify to avoid potential negative impacts on his career.

1950: Birth of Sharon Robinson

In 1950, Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon Robinson, was born.

1950: Rickey leaves the Dodgers

In late 1950, Branch Rickey's contract as the Dodgers' team President expired. Due to disagreements with Walter O'Malley, Rickey cashed out his financial interest in the team and became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Robinson was disappointed by this.

1952: Birth of David Robinson

In 1952, Jackie Robinson's youngest son, David Robinson, was born.

January 5, 1957: Retirement from baseball

Jackie Robinson retired from baseball at age 37 on January 5, 1957. Later that year, he was diagnosed with diabetes.

July 1959: Red Sox Integrate Roster

More than 14 years after Jackie Robinson's humiliating tryout with the Boston Red Sox, in July 1959, the Red Sox became the final major league team to integrate its roster.

October 1959: Robinson Protests Segregation at Greenville Airport

In October 1959, Jackie Robinson protested segregation by entering the whites-only waiting room at Greenville Municipal Airport, refusing to leave when asked. He then gave a speech in Greenville, South Carolina, urging black citizens to vote and protest their second-class citizenship.

1960: Supported Richard Nixon for President

In 1960, Jackie Robinson supported Richard Nixon in his presidential race against John F. Kennedy.

1964: Angered by Barry Goldwater's Candidacy

In 1964, Jackie Robinson was angered by the presidential election candidacy of conservative Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, who had opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

November 19, 1965: Jackie Robinson Jr. Wounded in Vietnam War

On November 19, 1965, Jackie Robinson's eldest son, Jackie Robinson Jr., serving in the Vietnam War, was wounded in action.

1968: Broke with Republican Party to Support Hubert Humphrey

In 1968, Jackie Robinson broke with the Republican party and supported Hubert Humphrey against Nixon in that year's presidential election.

1968: Jackie Robinson Suffers Heart Attack

In 1968, Jackie Robinson suffered a heart attack, which, combined with heart disease and diabetes, weakened him later in life.

1969: Declined Invitation to Old-Timers' Game

In 1969, Jackie Robinson protested against the major leagues' lack of minority managers and central office personnel, and he turned down an invitation to appear in an old-timers' game at Yankee Stadium.

October 15, 1972: Final Public Appearance at World Series

On October 15, 1972, nine days before his death, Jackie Robinson made his final public appearance at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the World Series. He accepted a plaque honoring the twenty-fifth anniversary of his MLB debut, advocating for black managers in baseball.

October 24, 1972: Death of Jackie Robinson

On October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died. His legacy continued through posthumous awards and the retirement of his jersey number across all MLB teams.

2022: Robinson's Record

As of 2022, Jackie Robinson's record of 12.2 yards per attempt on 42 carries remains the school football record for the highest rushing yards per carry in a season