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 an American professional baseball player who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947, when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His signing ended racial segregation in professional baseball, which had excluded Black players since the 1880s, relegating them to the Negro leagues. Robinson's courage and exceptional talent paved the way for greater racial equality in sports and beyond.

Sections (6)

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

July 5, 1947: Larry Doby Breaks American League Color Barrier

On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American League, just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League.

1947: Jackie Robinson wins Rookie of the Year Award

In 1947, Jackie Robinson won the Major League Rookie of the Year Award which encompassed both leagues.

1948: Truman's Military Desegregation

In 1948, President Harry Truman desegregated the military, contributing to increased equality for blacks alongside Jackie Robinson's breaking of the baseball color line.

1949: Song About Jackie Robinson

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

1949: Separate Rookie of the Year Awards

In 1949, separate National and American League Rookie of the Year honors were first awarded, two years after Jackie Robinson won the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award in 1947.

1950: Leads League in Double Plays and Film Biography Release

In 1950, Jackie Robinson led the National League in double plays made by a second baseman, with 133. Also in 1950, his salary was the highest any Dodger had been paid to that point, at $35,000. The film biography of Robinson's life, The Jackie Robinson Story, was released, with Robinson playing himself.

1950: The Jackie Robinson Story Film

In 1950, Jackie Robinson portrayed himself in the motion picture The Jackie Robinson Story.

December 1956: NAACP Spingarn Medal

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

1957: Vice President at Chock full o'Nuts & Chairs NAACP Freedom Fund Drive

In 1957, Jackie Robinson became the vice president for personnel at Chock full o'Nuts, becoming the first black person to serve as vice president of a major American corporation. Also in 1957, he chaired the NAACP's million-dollar Freedom Fund Drive.

July 1959: Red Sox Integrate Roster

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

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, refusing to leave when asked by airport police. He then delivered a speech to the NAACP in Greenville, South Carolina, advocating for complete freedom and urging 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 encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications, rather than his cultural impact on the game, becoming the first black player inducted into the Cooperstown museum.

1964: Founds Freedom National Bank

In 1964, Jackie Robinson helped found Freedom National Bank with Harlem businessman Dunbar McLaurin. This bank was a black-owned and operated commercial bank based in Harlem.

1965: Becomes Analyst for ABC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week

In 1965, Jackie Robinson became an analyst for ABC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts, making him the first black person to hold such a position.

1967: Leaves NAACP Board

In 1967, Jackie Robinson ended his service on the board of the NAACP.

1970: Establishes Jackie Robinson Construction Company

In 1970, Jackie Robinson established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company to build housing for low-income families.

June 4, 1972: Dodgers Retire Robinson's Uniform 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 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 but expressed his desire to see a black manager in baseball.

October 27, 1972: Funeral Service Held for Jackie Robinson

On October 27, 1972, Jackie Robinson's funeral service was held at Upper Manhattan's Riverside Church, attracting 2,500 mourners. Many of his former teammates and other famous figures served as pallbearers, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy.

1972: Posthumous Awards

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

1974: Frank Robinson Hired as Manager

Following the 1974 season, the Cleveland Indians hired Frank Robinson (no relation to Jackie) as their manager, fulfilling Jackie Robinson's wish after his death to see a black manager in baseball.

1976: Jackie Robinson House Declared 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 After Robinson

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

1982: USPS Postage Stamp Honoring Robinson

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: Charter Member of 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 Award 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, the first recipient.

1990: Jackie Robinson Ballpark Renaming

In 1990, City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida was renamed Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

1990: Rachel Robinson Serves on Board of Freedom National Bank until it closed

Until it closed in 1990, Rachel Robinson served on the board of the Freedom National Bank.

April 15, 1997: MLB Retires Robinson's Jersey Number 42

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.

1997: Interboro Parkway Renamed

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

1997: Bronze Sculpture Erected in Pasadena

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

1997: Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coin

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

1999: USPS Postage Stamp Honoring Robinson

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. In the same year, he was 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: All-Century Team Selection

In 1999, Jackie Robinson was one of 30 players named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

2000: USPS Postage Stamp Honoring Robinson

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

2000: NHL Retires Wayne Gretzky's Number 99

In 2000, the NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's number 99, which was the only other league wide retirement after Jackie Robinson's number retirement.

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: Jackie Robinson Day

On April 15, 2004, MLB adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", on which every player on every team wears no. 42.

2004: MLB Establishes Jackie Robinson Day

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

2004: Jackie Robinson Award

Since 2004, the Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year has been presented with 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: Jackie Robinson Rotunda Announced at Citi Field Groundbreaking

At the November 2006 groundbreaking for Citi Field, the new ballpark for the New York Mets, 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 Invited to Wear Number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day

In 2007, for the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major league debut, MLB invited players to wear the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day, initiated by Ken Griffey Jr.

April 15, 2008: Jackie Robinson Foundation Announces Museum Opening

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: MLB Installs New Plaque 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 at Citi Field Opening

On April 16, 2009, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda was dedicated at the opening of Citi Field. It honors Robinson with large quotations and a statue of his number, 42.

2009: MLB Personnel Wear Number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day

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

2010: Projected opening of Jackie Robinson Museum

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

2011: Plaque Placed at Robinson's Montreal Home

In 2011, the U.S. placed a plaque at Jackie Robinson's Montreal home to honor the ending of segregation in baseball. The house, at 8232 avenue de Gaspé near Jarry Park, was Robinson's residence when he played for the Montreal Royals during 1946.

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 Retires as Last Player to Wear Number 42

In 2013, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees retired as 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.

2016: Jackie Robinson PBS Documentary

In 2016, a PBS documentary titled Jackie Robinson was released, directed by Ken Burns, featuring Jamie Foxx as the voice of Robinson.

November 19, 2017: Jersey Sold at Auction

On November 19, 2017, a jersey that Jackie Robinson brought home with him after his rookie season ended in 1947 was sold at an auction for $2.05 million. The price was the highest ever paid for a post-World War II jersey.

2017: Statue of Robinson Unveiled at Dodger Stadium

In 2017, a statue of Jackie Robinson, created by sculptor Branly Cadet, was unveiled at Dodger Stadium, marking the first statue the Dodgers ever unveiled.

2020: Ranked on The Athletic's "Baseball 100" List

In 2020, Jackie Robinson was ranked at number 42 on The Athletic's "Baseball 100" list, complied by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.

2022: Robinson's Rushing Record

As of 2022, Jackie Robinson holds the school football record for highest rushing yards per carry in a season, achieving 12.2 yards per attempt on 42 carries in 1939.

2022: NBA Retires Bill Russell's Number 6

In 2022, the NBA retired Bill Russell's number 6, which was the only other league wide retirement after Jackie Robinson's number retirement and Wayne Gretzky's number 99 retirement.