Jackie Robinson Day

Jackie Robinson Day History

Jackie Robinson Day honors and commemorates the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. Jackie Roosevelt Robinson played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. He led them to six league championships and one World Series. In 1962 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to his baseball legacy, Jackie Robison made an impact on the civil rights movement in that his signing lead to the end of racial segregation in professional baseball. In 1972 he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Jackie Robinson Day was established in 2004 by the MLB as a commemoration for Robinson. It is observed annually on April 15th. Every year, players and on-field personnel wear his number 42 jersey in honor of his legacy.

Top 8 Facts for Jackie Robinson Day in 2026

• Since its inception in 2004, the annual tradition of Jackie Robinson Day includes a league-wide tribute where every player, manager, coach, and umpire wears the iconic uniform number 42 to honor the man who broke the baseball color barrier in 1947.
• Major League Baseball universally retired Robinson’s jersey number across all teams in 1997, making it the first and only number in the history of the sport to receive such a permanent, league-wide distinction.
• Beyond his baseball prowess, Robinson was a prolific four-sport athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles, becoming the first student in the school's history to win varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football, and track and field.
• Fans often seek out his 1972 autobiography, I Never Had It Made, which provides a candid look at the racial prejudice he faced and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.
• One of the most enduring highlights of his career is his record of stealing home plate 19 times, a feat of daring athleticism that was famously dramatized in the 2013 biographical film 42.
• Before his historic debut, Robinson served in the United States Army during World War II, where he was famously court-martialed and later honorably discharged for refusing to move to the back of a segregated military bus.
• After retiring from professional sports, he continued to break barriers as the first African American to be named a vice president of a major American corporation, serving in that capacity for the coffee company Chock full o' Nuts.
• The 2026 observance marks the 79th anniversary of his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, a milestone that will see all thirty Major League teams in action simultaneously to commemorate his legacy.

In the News and Trending in the US for Jackie Robinson Day

Top things to do in the US for Jackie Robinson Day

• Explore a virtual museum and learn more about Jackie Robinson.
• Learn more about the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Robinson's legacy. The foundation has helped college students struggling to meet their financial needs. It aims to promote the values and character traits demonstrated by Jackie Robinson.
• Watch videos celebrating Jackie Robinson Day.