Robinson, Jackie (Jack Roosevelt) (1919-1972)

US baseball player Jackie Robinson at the bat. On 15 April 1947, Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the colour barrier that had existed in major league baseball since before the turn of the century.

US baseball player. In 1947 he became the first black American in the major leagues, playing second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and winning rookie of the year honours. In 1949 he was the National League's batting champion and was voted the league's most valuable player. He had a career batting average of .311.

Born in Cairo, Georgia, USA, Robinson attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League in 1945. He came to the attention of Branch Rickey and was signed by a Brooklyn Dodgers minor league team. After retiring as a player in 1956, Robinson served as the New York governor's special assistant for community affairs 1966-68.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame 1962.