Lasting Legacy of Jackie Robinson: A Look at the Influence on History

How the contributions of Jackie Robinson continue to shape the world today.

Jackie Robinson was a pivotal figure in American history. As the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era, he broke the color barrier in 1947, joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. This event marked a significant step towards desegregation in professional sports, ending the long-standing practice of relegating Black players to the Negro leagues. Robinson's courage and skill paved the way for future generations of African American athletes and contributed to the broader Civil Rights Movement.

Sections (6)

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

1947: Rookie of the Year Award

In 1947, Jackie Robinson won the Major League Rookie of the Year Award.

1948: Desegregation of the Military

In 1948, President Harry Truman desegregated the military, which led the country toward increased equality for blacks. Robinson's success symbolized these broader changes.

1949: Song about Robinson Reaches Number 13 on Charts

In 1949, the song "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" by Buddy Johnson reached number 13 on the charts, and Count Basie recorded a famous version. The Dodgers won the National League pennant but lost the 1949 World Series to the New York Yankees.

Loading Video...

December 1956: NAACP Spingarn Medal

In December 1956, the NAACP recognized Jackie Robinson with the Spingarn Medal, awarded annually for the highest achievement by an African-American.

July 1959: Boston Red Sox Integrated Roster

In July 1959, more than 14 years after a tryout that subjected Jackie Robinson to racial epithets, the Boston 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 racial segregation by entering the whites-only waiting room at Greenville Municipal Airport. When asked to leave by airport police, Robinson refused and in a speech in Greenville, South Carolina, he urged black citizens to vote and protest their second-class citizenship.

1962: Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

In 1962, Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He was the first Black American player inducted into the Cooperstown museum. He encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications.

June 4, 1972: Dodgers Retire Robinson's Number

On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired Jackie Robinson's uniform number, 42, alongside those of former teammates Roy Campanella (39) and Sandy Koufax (32).

October 15, 1972: Final Public Appearance at World Series

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

October 27, 1972: Jackie Robinson's Funeral Service

On October 27, 1972, Jackie Robinson's funeral service was held at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, New York, attracting 2,500 mourners. Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy. He was later buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.

1972: Posthumous Awards

After his death in 1972, Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field.

1974: Frank Robinson Appointed Manager of Cleveland Indians

Following the 1974 season, the Cleveland Indians appointed Frank Robinson (no relation) as their manager, fulfilling Jackie Robinson's wish to see a Black manager in baseball, albeit posthumously.

1976: Jackie Robinson House Declared a National Historic Landmark

In 1976, Jackie Robinson's home in Brooklyn, the Jackie Robinson House, was declared a National Historic Landmark.

1978: Colonial Park Renamed

In 1978, Colonial Park in Harlem was renamed after Jackie Robinson.

1982: Jackie Robinson Honored on Postage Stamp

In 1982, Jackie Robinson was honored by the United States Postal Service on a postage stamp.

March 26, 1984: Presidential Medal of Freedom

On March 26, 1984, President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Jackie Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

1984: Inducted into UCLA's Athletics Hall of Fame

In 1984, Jackie Robinson was among the 25 charter members of UCLA's Athletics Hall of Fame.

1987: Rookie of the Year Awards Renamed

In 1987, both the National and American League Rookie of the Year Awards were renamed the "Jackie Robinson Award" in honor of Jackie Robinson.

1990: Jackie Robinson Ballpark Renamed

In 1990, City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida was renamed Jackie Robinson Ballpark and a statue of Robinson with two children was erected in front of it.

1990: Rachel Robinson Serves on Freedom National Bank Board Until Closure

In 1990, Jackie Robinson's wife Rachel Robinson served on the board of the Freedom National Bank until its closure.

1993: Inducted into National High School Hall of Fame

In 1993, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame.

April 15, 1997: Robinson's Number Retired Throughout MLB

On April 15, 1997, Jackie Robinson's jersey number, 42, was retired throughout Major League Baseball, the first time any jersey number had been retired throughout one of the four major American sports leagues.

1997: MLB Retires Number 42

In 1997, MLB retired Jackie Robinson's uniform number, 42, across all Major League teams, making him the first professional athlete in any sport to receive this honor.

1997: Interboro Parkway Renamed

In 1997, New York City renamed the Interboro Parkway in honor of Jackie Robinson.

1997: Pasadena Robinson Memorial Erected

In 1997, a $325,000 bronze sculpture called the Pasadena Robinson Memorial, by artists Ralph Helmick, Stu Schecter, and John Outterbridge, depicting oversized busts of Jackie Robinson and his brother Mack, was erected at Garfield Avenue in Pasadena.

1997: Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coins Issued

In 1997, the United States Mint issued a Jackie Robinson commemorative silver dollar, and five-dollar gold coin.

1999: Jackie Robinson Honored on Postage Stamp

In 1999, Jackie Robinson was honored by the United States Postal Service on a postage stamp.

1999: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 1999, Jackie Robinson was named by Time on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. He was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team and ranked No. 44 on The Sporting News list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".

1999: Named to All-Century Team

In 1999, Jackie Robinson was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

2000: Jackie Robinson Honored on Postage Stamp

In 2000, Jackie Robinson was honored by the United States Postal Service on a postage stamp.

2000: Wayne Gretzky's Number 99 Retired by NHL

In 2000, Wayne Gretzky's number 99 was retired by the NHL.

2002: Included on List of 100 Greatest African Americans

In 2002, Molefi Kete Asante included Jackie Robinson on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.

April 15, 2004: Inaugural Jackie Robinson Day

On April 15, 2004, MLB established "Jackie Robinson Day" as an annual tradition, where every player on every team wears the number 42.

2004: Jackie Robinson Day Established

In 2004, MLB began honoring Jackie Robinson by allowing players to wear number 42 on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day, which is an annual observance.

2004: Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award

Since 2004, the Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year has been presented the "Jackie Robinson Award".

March 2, 2005: Congressional Gold Medal

On March 2, 2005, President George W. Bush gave Jackie Robinson's widow the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress. Robinson was only the second baseball player to receive the award, after Roberto Clemente.

November 1, 2005: Unveiling of Reese and Robinson Statue

On November 1, 2005, a statue by sculptor William Behrends depicting Pee Wee Reese with his arm around Jackie Robinson was unveiled at KeySpan Park.

November 2006: Citi Field Groundbreaking and Announcement of Jackie Robinson Rotunda

At the groundbreaking for Citi Field in November 2006, it was announced that the main entrance would be called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

August 20, 2007: Induction into the California Hall of Fame

On August 20, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced that Jackie Robinson was inducted into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento.

2007: Players Wear Number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day

In 2007, for the 60th anniversary of Robinson's major league debut, MLB invited players to wear the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day. The gesture was originally the idea of outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

April 15, 2008: Jackie Robinson Museum Announced

On April 15, 2008, Rachel Robinson announced that the Jackie Robinson Foundation would open a museum devoted to Jackie in Lower Manhattan in 2010.

June 25, 2008: New Plaque Installed at Baseball Hall of Fame

On June 25, 2008, MLB installed a new plaque for Jackie Robinson at the Baseball Hall of Fame commemorating his off-the-field impact on the game as well as his playing statistics.

April 16, 2009: Jackie Robinson Rotunda Dedicated

On April 16, 2009, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the main entrance to Citi Field, the new ballpark for the New York Mets, was dedicated.

2009: MLB Uniformed Personnel Wear Number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day

In 2009, all of MLB's uniformed personnel (including players) wore number 42 on April 15; this tradition has continued every year since on that date.

2010: Jackie Robinson Foundation Museum Planned Opening

In 2010, the Jackie Robinson Foundation planned to open a museum devoted to Jackie in Lower Manhattan.

2011: Plaque Placed at Montreal Home

In 2011, the U.S. placed a plaque at Jackie Robinson's Montreal home to honor the ending of segregation in baseball, marking his 1946 season with the Montreal Royals.

April 14, 2013: New Mural Unveiled at Jackie Robinson Stadium

On April 14, 2013, a new mural of Jackie Robinson by Mike Sullivan was unveiled at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

2013: Mariano Rivera Last Player to Wear Number 42

In 2013, Mariano Rivera, who retired at the end of the season, was the last player in Major League Baseball to wear jersey number 42 on a regular basis.

November 22, 2014: UCLA Retires Number 42

On November 22, 2014, UCLA announced that it would officially retire the number 42 across all university sports, effective immediately, in honor of Jackie Robinson.