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.

Facts about Jackie Robinson Day

• Jackie Robinson received several awards posthumously. In 1984, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan. In 1997, he was featured on both a gold and silver coin produced by the U.S. Mint. In 2005, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
• Jackie Robinson’s number 42 jersey was retired from use in 1997. It is the only number to be retired across all of Major League Baseball.
• Jackie Robinson was drafted into the US army in 1942. He was court-martialed two years later in 1944 for refusing to sit in the back of a segregated bus. He would later be exonerated of his charge however.

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.