Jackie Robinson's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Jackie Robinson.

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

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: Reported as Outstanding Athlete

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.

May 7, 1938: Broad-Jump Record

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

1940: NCAA Championship

In 1940, Jackie Robinson won the NCAA championship in the long jump.

August 1944: Acquittal

In August 1944, Jackie Robinson was acquitted by an all-white panel of nine officers after being court-martialed on charges of insubordination.

March 17, 1946: Robinson makes Royals Debut

On March 17, 1946, Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Montreal Royals at Daytona Beach's City Island Ballpark in an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player to openly play for a minor league team against a major league team since the 1880s.

April 18, 1946: Robinson's Professional Debut

On April 18, 1946, Jackie Robinson made his professional debut with the Montreal Royals against the Jersey City Giants at Roosevelt Stadium. He had four hits in five at bats, including a three-run home run, and stole two bases in the Royals' 14–1 victory.

April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line in professional baseball by starting at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, marking the end of racial segregation in professional baseball.

1947: Robinson plays in the World Series

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player to play in the World Series as the Brooklyn Dodgers faced the Yankees. He appeared in all seven games, with the Dodgers ultimately losing in Game 7.

1947: Support from Players

In 1947, Jackie Robinson received encouragement from several major league players, including Lee "Jeep" Handley and Hank Greenberg, who had also faced prejudice. Larry Doby also spoke to Robinson throughout the season.

1947: Rookie of the Year Award

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

August 29, 1948: Robinson hits for the cycle

On August 29, 1948, in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Jackie Robinson hit for the cycle—a home run, a triple, a double, and a single in the same game.

1948: Reese shows support for Robinson

In 1948, Pee Wee Reese showed his support for Jackie Robinson by putting his arm around him in response to racial slurs from fans before a game in either Boston or Cincinnati.

1949: Rookie of the Year Award

Due to his performance in the 1947 season, Jackie Robinson earned the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award in 1949.

1949: National League Most Valuable Player Award

In 1949, Jackie Robinson won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first Black player to be so honored.

1949: Named Most Valuable Player for the National League

In 1949, Jackie Robinson's batting average improved to .342 after working with George Sisler. He stole 37 bases, was second in the league for doubles and triples, registered 124 runs batted in and 122 runs, earning him the Most Valuable Player Award for the National League. Baseball fans also voted Robinson as the starting second baseman for the 1949 All-Star Game, the first to include black players.

1951: Led National League in Double Plays

During the 1951 season, Jackie Robinson led the National League in double plays made by a second baseman for the second year in a row, with 137. During the last game of the regular season, in the 13th inning, he had a hit to tie the game and then hit a home run in the 14th inning, which proved to be the winning margin.

1954: All-Star Season

1954 was the last of six consecutive seasons from 1949 Jackie Robinson was an All-Star.

1955: World Series Championship

In 1955, Jackie Robinson contributed to the Dodgers' World Series championship.

1955: Dodgers Win World Series

In the autumn of 1955, Jackie Robinson won his only championship when the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series. In 1955, he hit .256 and stole only 12 bases. The season was the worst year of Robinson's individual career. Don Newcombe became the first black major league pitcher to win twenty games in a year.

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.

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.

1971: Appointed to New York State Athletic Commission

In 1971, Jackie Robinson was appointed to the New York State Athletic Commission by Nelson Rockefeller.

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).

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.