On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke Major League Baseball’s color line.
He faced intense abuse with discipline and courage, won Rookie of the Year and later the National League MVP award. Every team now honors him each April 15.
Key Facts
- Lived: 1919 to 1972
- Served in the U.S. Army during World War II
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962
- His number 42 was retired across Major League Baseball in 1997
Black American Heroes on PinGallery
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